Mr. Rodriguez Goes To Harrisburg: Pottstown Will Level Up

POTTSTOWN, PA — Pottstowns School District Superintendent Stephen Rodriquez was among legislators who celebrated with Gov. Tom Wolf today the largest state funding increase for public schools in Pennsylvania's history.

In a June 29 news conference in Harrisburg, Rodriquez spoke about how the legislation will help districts like his own close the funding gap between PA's wealthiest and poorest school districts.

The new Level Up initiative provides an additional $100 million to the 100 lowest wealth school districts in the Commonwealth. Pottstown School District will receive an extra $1.4 million, which Rodriquez referred to in his remarks as a "first down" rather than a "touchdown" but nonetheless helpful.

Wolf called the legislation "a $416 million investment in high-quality education in every community."

"It shows all students that we care about their education and their future, reminds every mom and dad that Pennsylvania is invested in the success of their children, and will help the next generation of our kids to succeed in Pennsylvania, not in Texas, California or any other state," the Governor said on Wednesday.

"Level Up will help us level the playing field, and make sure students in underfunded districts aren’t being left behind," said Wolf. "I’ve visited many of those underfunded schools, and it is clear that our funding doesn’t treat every student the same. Every student deserves a chance to learn, and Level Up will help give them that chance. This is a life-changing investment for students across the commonwealth and the communities they live in."

Here is the statement delivered by Rodriquez today in Harrisburg, in full:

"Good Morning. On behalf of the Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools, a caucus of Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, and on behalf of the Pottstown School District, I would like to thank you, Rep. Mike Schlossberg, other esteemed members of our state legislature, Gov. Tom Wolf, and the growing community of education advocates who helped to support this education funding.

Several months ago, when I was asked to speak on behalf of this proposed legislation, I said that Level Up legislation falls far short of a fully funded fair funding formula.

However, I also said that this funding may not be a touchdown, but it is a solid ‘first down’ because it addresses some of the inequity in our current funding structure. It is a solid ‘first down’ and ensures that students who need this funding most, get it first.

The way you get touchdowns and eventually win games is a series of first downs. So we can't stop here. Continual positive progress down the field of play wins the game for our students and our state.

Some of you may know that just last week dozens of advocates were arrested while protesting about this issue in the building behind me. Some of you may also know that on the steps where we stand, thousands of citizens have come to voice their support for their Hometown Schools and for our children. The people of our state are speaking up and taking action on this issue, So we can't stop here.

I am so appreciative to the Legislature and our Governor for using a bipartisan approach that spends education dollars more equitably — where they are needed most.

For my own district, the $1.4 million we will receive gets applied immediately to student programs and resources, and we are grateful. But my community has been loud and clear in reminding me that we have been underfunded by $11 million to $13 million every year, for years. Parents and Community leaders were quick to point out that while everyone wants a rainy day fund to fall back on, for students in districts like mine, it's been raining for a long time.

The ‘level up’ funding is a golden drop of sunshine through that rain but we must keep going. I look forward to brighter days ahead, and I know I speak on behalf of many educators and students everywhere when I say this is progress and a big step in the right direction!"

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