A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN
WHEREAS, the Board of School Directors recognizes the challenges facing the School District of the City of Allentown in terms of the 2011-2012 General Fund Operating Budget;
WHEREAS, the School District of the City of Allentown has a census poor population of 5,971 school age students and has over 87% of its students eligible for free or reduced price lunch;
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania’s MV/PI aid ratio identifies the School District of the City of Allentown as one of the neediest school districts in the state;
WHEREAS, latest census figures show that the city’s population has grown by 10.7% over the past decade and the Latino population has doubled to where it now comprises 43% of the population;
WHEREAS, a major national analysis identified the School District of the City of Allentown as the lowest-spending school district in the state in relation to the high needs of poverty and non-English speaking students;
WHEREAS, there is no district in the state that has the extreme challenge of poverty combined with the high percentage of English Language Learners as the School District of the City of Allentown;
WHEREAS, the Educational Needs Index categorized Allentown as one of the two “most critical” regions in the state based on education levels, economic challenges, and robust population growth and shifting demographics in categories of youth, young adults, and at-risk minority groups;
WHEREAS, the Governor’s budget proposal will take more than 16 million dollars from current School District Funding, including the elimination of the Educational Assistance Program and the Accountability Block Grant;
WHEREAS, the amount of available revenue for School District of the City of Allentown has also been diminished by local tax assessment appeals, loss of stimulus money, and the limits of Act 1;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of School Directors of the School District of the City of Allentown that the Governor and the General Assembly are hereby requested to provide the necessary funding to the School District of the City of Allentown so that all students may reach proficiency and be career or college ready.
ADOPTED this 24th day of March, 2011.
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF
ALLENTOWN
ATTEST:
Jeff Glazier, President, Board of Directors
