Students Need PA Residents Support!
Letter to the Editor:
The Scotland School for Veterans’ Children has been closed this current school year by Governor Rendell, due to lack of funding in our states (yet unsettled) budget.
There are two “compromised” bills awaiting review by the House & Senate, to allocate money towards this academic school year.
Gov. Rendell placed his arguments against the state financially supporting this school any longer, citing SSVC wasn’t “educationally adequate”, insofar as academic standards set by the PSSA, therefore mandating the closing of this historical educational institution.
Jean Hartman-Vargas, head of the school’s Union, appealed the Governor’s decision through news and media coverage and has, in hand, the results of the 2008-09 PSSA test scores of the school. In fact, not only did SSVC students achieve all 13 of the 13 “targets/standards” defined by PSSA, it did so in spite of the school being understaffed this particular academic year by Gov. Rendell’s mandated hiring freeze at this institution.
To learn more about this historical school and its importance to our states Dept. of Education system, please visit: www.ssvcalumni.org
I urge everyone to contact our State Representatives to support the immediate re-opening of this school, if not through our State’s undetermined budget, then perhaps by one of the two bills currently ready for review. You may do so by phone, or visit the website, “Write Your Representative Service”, at: www.writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Your voice in these children’s continued education at this historical institution will make a difference in their education…and their future
