Mastriano Education Plan Cuts School Funds by $12 Billion, Union Says
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Ben Hodge, a York County performing arts teacher, said last year one of his students said his acting class alone motivated her to get up and come to school every day. .
Earlier this year, the high school student was shy and timid, he said. rice field. This opportunity has boosted her confidence and taught her leadership skills.
Hodge fears that if Republican Senator Doug Mastriano wins this year’s gubernatorial election and implements funding cuts that could jeopardize electives and force larger class sizes, There is a possibility that it will be lost.
“I am concerned about the 125 students currently enrolled in the performing arts elective I am currently teaching,” Hodge said Wednesday at a press conference hosted by the Pennsylvania Education Association (PSEA). When these funds are cut, electives such as music, art, dance and performing arts are often the first.”
Mastriano said the PSEA’s analysis was erroneous and based on a misunderstanding, but the candidate’s plans would cut the annual budget of public schools by more than $12 billion, saving about 119,000 students across the Commonwealth. jobs are estimated to be lost.
The association’s analysis is based on comments Mastriano made in March about changing the state’s student funding levels, which are now set at $19,000 per student.
more:Senator Doug Mastriano running for governor: What we know about his relationship with Jan. 6
“I think you can fund each student about $9,000 or $10,000 instead of $19,000 and then decide whether to go to public school, private school, religious school, cyber school, or home school. ‘ said Mastriano in an Altoona radio interview.
The PSEA said it would lead to a $29 million cut in school funding and the loss of 304 jobs in the Central York School District.
“Cutting a school’s funding in half is devastating. Can you imagine what it would be like to have a school that is half teachers, half staff, and half opportunities for students?” One Rich Askey said at a press conference that it was one of about 10 press conferences the PSEA has held across the state this week to present its estimates.
However, Mastriano accuses Cherry’s union of picking up remarks in an interview in March and misinferring from them. A comment about $10,000 or $10,000 in funding is just one element of his overall education plan.
“Union deceptively takes one element of it and presents it as his whole plan,” says the video’s narrator. “But that’s not his plan.”
According to Mastriano’s website, as governor he will not only “ensure adequate funding for public schools,” but will also “fight desperately to provide the competition that makes schools great.” According to the site, his plan calls for expanding school choice options, so “never again will a child be trapped in a failed school.”
He also said he would try to abolish the property tax and promised to form a special committee to work towards this goal if elected.
However, the site provides little detail on how he will achieve these policy goals. said it was not available.
“Senator Doug Mastriano told you who he is,” Askey said.
The PSEA is endorsing Mastriano’s Democratic rival, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, in the Nov. 8 general election.
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