Homer-Center School District

65 Wildcat Lane

Homer City, PA  15748

April 26, 2011

Dear Residents of the Homer-Center School District:

The Homer-Center School District is working on the district’s budget for 2011-12.  These are very difficult economic times for all of us, and we knew that it was going to be a challenge to meet the needs of our children and balance next year’s budget.  However, the Governor’s proposal to cut more than $1 billion in public school funding for next year has made a difficult task nearly impossible.  For our district alone, we anticipate a cut of approximately $750,000.

Across Pennsylvania, students have been making progress and improving test scores in recent years as a result of increased investments in education.  But a cut of over a billion dollars will be a huge step backwards.  As I talk with superintendents across the state, it is clear that many districts will be forced to lay off teachers and other staff, increase class size, eliminate essential programs, cut back on Pre-K programs, drop tutoring for struggling students, end programs in which high school students could take college courses, and stop replacing outdated technology and textbooks.  In addition to making cuts like these, many districts will also be raising taxes.

Here in the Homer-Center School District, we are facing an estimated total decline in key state subsidies for 2011-12 of nearly $750,000.  Although reductions were anticipated when the preliminary budget for the district was developed and adopted, the Governor’s proposed budget resulted in cuts much more severe than anticipated amounting to an additional loss of $450,000.  The projected deficit of $1.45 million in the preliminary budget has now grown to over $1.9 million.  The task of closing the deficit has now become even more difficult and painstaking. 

These education funding cuts announced by Governor Corbett will have a very significant impact on Homer-Center.  As a result of these deep cuts and the loss of the power plant tax revenue, Homer-Center will deplete all of its fund balance by June, 2012 unless budget costs are reduced by at least $1.2 million dollars.  The Board is in the process of reviewing all areas of the budget in order to generate this necessary cost reduction.  Depleting all of the District’s fund balance is simply not an option and is certainly not prudent.  Fiscal responsibility to District taxpayers mandates that budget costs be reduced as a result of all the revenue loss.  In doing so, the Board will strive to minimize the impact on our students, teachers and educational programs.  It is clear, however, that cost reductions in all budget areas will be required in order to stabilize the District’s financial condition.

If the legislature accepts the Governor’s proposed education cuts, the burden on homeowners will be increased.  And even with increased local taxes, it is likely that there will be a decline in educational quality in most communities.  Our children only have one chance to get a quality education.  It is our responsibility to do everything we can to assure that chance does not slip away from them.  To learn more and express your views, I suggest that you go to www.stopthebilliondollarcut.org.

We will keep you advised regarding the final result of the 2011-2012 restructured budget.

Sincerely,

                      Dr. Vincent R. Delconte,

       Superintendent