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Copyright © 2010 The Morning Call

ID: 4540095
Publication Date: February 28, 2010
Day: Sunday
Page: A1
Edition: FIRST
Section: News
Type: State/Region
Dateline:
Column:
Length: long

Byline: By Christopher Baxter OF THE MORNING CALL

Headline: Public gives school-budget options an F **Majority of survey

respondents say they oppose belt-tightening measures. **EXCLUSIVE:
STATEWIDE EDUCATION POLL

School districts caught in the thickets of a thorny budget season will get
little more than grief from the public no matter how they propose
trimming costs, a Morning Call/Muhlenberg College Poll finds.

Respondents opposed the most practical and money-saving options

districts have available to balance the ledgers, including increasing taxes
and class sizes and cutting the number of courses and jobs.

The results suggest school directors who are looking to the public for
guidance will get none; instead, they probably will face a hostile political
climate in which they have to make widely unpopular decisions.

"It's a classic case of none of the remedies being palatable, but the
problem still existing," said Chris Borick, a Muhlenberg political science
professor who directed the poll. "If I'm a school board member looking at
these numbers, I'm saying, "I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't."'

The majority of those polled said they somewhat or strongly opposed:

increasing class sizes to reduce teachers (81 percent); cutting courses to
reduce teachers (73 percent); increasing property taxes (69 percent); and
requiring a fee for extracurricular clubs and sports (63 percent).

Of the 450 Pennsylvania adults polled between Feb. 8 and 22, respondents
most supported consolidating school districts (45 percent), a move
proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell last year but perhaps the least practical
option available to school boards.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

"Even the consolidation result comes with a caveat," Borick said. "If we
had asked people if they would support their school district being
consolidated, I'm sure those numbers would plummet, too. People don't
like the idea of giving up local schools."

The worst budget troubles in recent memory have befallen Lehigh Valley
school districts this year, prompted by the Great Recession and made
worse by teachers contracts with annual raises and a state retirement
system considered in peril.

Most teachers unions and other contracted groups have so far been
unwilling to make concessions or renegotiate when approached, leaving
many school boards with few options but to either raise taxes or cut jobs
and programs.

The Bangor Area School District, intent on not raising property taxes, last
week proposed eliminating 34 jobs -- including 14 teaching positions and
15 teacher's aide jobs -- to plug a $2.1 million budget gap projected for
next school year.

"It's not something we're totally comfortable with, but that's all part of the
job," said Joseph Boyle, president of the Bangor Area School Board.
"Everybody wants things until you tell them, "If we have to cut, we might
have to cut what's not required,' and then everyone gets upset."

The cuts will increase class sizes in Bangor next year, the most unpopular
of all the outcomes, according to the poll. The negative response is
probably the result of years of educators' emphasis on the importance of
small class sizes, Borick said.

Respondent Lynn Geary of Pittsburgh, who put her two sons through that
city's public schools, said a good education with plenty of teachers and
courses trumps all.

"Even though I'm a taxpayer and I don't want my taxes raised, if that's the
only option other than charging for clubs or laying off teachers or cutting
programs, then I would be OK with that," Geary said. "I'd rather pay a
little more for a good school."

School directors face the almost impossible task of pleasing those like
Geary and others who would defend programs on the chopping block, and
taxpayers who feel they already pay their fair share for school expenses.

In the Easton Area School District, a preliminary 11.85 percent tax hike
passed this month prompted outrage among taxpayers and calls for deep
cuts. Fixed costs account for the majority of Easton's budget, which could
be significantly reduced only through layoffs or furloughs.

A budget committee of school officials and residents will next month

recommend paring back some classes, sports and clubs. The committee
also has talked about charging a fee for some extracurricular activities,
one of the most palatable of budget solutions, the poll found.

"That wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't outrageous," said respondent Donald

Dodson, 26, of Cambria County, who does not have any children in
school. "But some kids won't have the money, so even that idea would
create more problems."

David Davare, director of research services for the Pennsylvania School

Boards Association, said an increasing number of districts are turning to
the extracurricular fee option because it places the cost on the participant
rather than every taxpayer.

But in many places, that alone will not fill the budget gap.

Directors in the Quakertown Community School District are considering a

sports pay-to-play program, as well as larger class sizes, which would
trigger redistricting. Last year, the school board considered cuts to staffing
and programs and possibly closing Haycock Elementary School.

The same cuts will probably be on the table again for next school year.

The Allentown School District has proposed a 4.3 percent tax increase to
cover rising expenses next school year. Trevor Jackson, acting chief
financial officer for the district, said federal school mandates and the
uncertainty of state funding leave districts handcuffed.

"The end result is always a tax increase," Jackson said.

The end result this year may also be little sympathy from taxpayers, who -
- without a budget referendum -- may take out their anger on school
directors at the polls in November. But Jackson said they have to consider
boards' predicaments.

"All they know is, "Don't raise my taxes,"' he said. ""I want as many
services I can possibly have for myself and kids and I don't want to pay
anymore. Oh, and I have no idea how you're going to do it."'

christopher.baxter@mcall.com

610-778-2283