Letter to the editor: No more money for public schools

Here we go again with Gov. Tom Wolf’s rhetoric on more funding for public schools. Test scores prove that throwing more money at schools does nothing to improve our children’s education.

Teachers unions are the problem. They strike often and mostly for the same two reasons: more money and more benefits. They say they care about the kids. Right. Then advocate for the return to in-school learning for all districts, and stop striking. Outlaw teachers strikes in Pennsylvania. I don’t think kids are learning at home — they’re in Walmart with their grandparents.

Make teachers in Pennsylvania state employees with a tiered structured pay scale. Assign them to a school district to work. In Pennsylvania, the wealthier the district, the higher the salary. The playing field would be leveled. Raise the state’s sales tax to make it happen.

School districts at this time should be freezing tax rates or giving tax rebates. The last thing districts should be doing is raising taxes. For what? Many schools still aren’t open, hence less capital expenditures. Lower the thermostat, turn off lights not needed. Less water; no toilets flushing. Less cleaning; reduce custodial staff. No kids to feed; lower costs in the cafeteria department.

There is no funding problem when it comes to Pennsylvania public schools. The districts just take what they need from the taxpayer.

Paul A. Hornbake

Bolivar