Local Leaders Call For $5B To Protect Pa. Kids From Lead, Asbestos

Local Leaders Call for $5B to Protect Pa. Kids from Lead, Asbestos

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Recently, Philadelphia had to close down five schools due to asbestos damage, causing disruptions to the academic schedules and inconveniencing parents who suddenly had their children at home.

Reginald Streater, the President of the Philadelphia Board of Education, whose children attend one of the affected schools called C.W. Henry Elementary, stated that the problems at Henry and other schools in the city were a result of negligence that extended over several decades.

Streater appealed to parents for understanding as they continue to address this long-standing issue, which has been accumulating for a hundred years.

Last week, local leaders from various parts of the state brought this matter to Harrisburg, where they urged lawmakers and the Democratic Shapiro administration to allocate $5 billion over the next five years to safeguard students from lead, asbestos, and other environmental hazards.

Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks, who spearheaded this effort, stated in a press release, "My children, my grandchildren, and all the children in Pennsylvania deserve safe schools that foster their growth. With over $13 billion available for funding, we can afford to make Pennsylvania schools safe for every child. We can invest $5 billion over the span of five years to ensure their safety and safeguard their future."

The amount of funding requested by these local leaders is significantly greater than the $500 million over five years proposed by Governor Josh Shapiro for environmental remediation in the $44.4 billion spending plan introduced in March.

Although the Democratic governor’s spending proposal for the upcoming fiscal year exhibits substantial investment in public education, some education advocates argue that it falls short in light of a state court ruling that declared Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional.

Given the increasing asbestos crisis, a member of Philadelphia’s City Council has emphasized the importance of taking immediate action by establishing an independent authority responsible for school building construction and renovation, instead of relying on the district.

According to Chalkbeat Philadelphia, Isaiah Thomas, chair of the council’s education committee, introduced a resolution last week to initiate hearings on the creation of such an authority. Thomas highlighted the urgency of prompt action, stating, "If we cannot accomplish this within this budget cycle, I am uncertain if we will ever secure the necessary funds to make a significant impact on this issue. If we wait until June or July, it may be too late."

In Harrisburg, local leaders and state lawmakers echoed the need for swift action. Bills in the state House and Senate aim to revive state funding for "Plan Con," the state’s program for funding school facilities, which has not received any new funds since 2016.

Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, a Democrat from Philadelphia, who sponsors the House version of the bill, stated, "Decades of inadequate funding and aging infrastructure have resulted in deferred and delayed maintenance in schools. However, a leaky roof does not fix itself. With billions of dollars in the treasury, it is finally time to invest in our children."

On the Senate side, Senator Tim Kearney, a Democrat from Delaware, sponsors the Senate version of the bill.

According to local officials, around 66% of Pennsylvania’s school buildings were constructed before 1970 and are likely to contain asbestos.

Furthermore, more than 100 schools in 30 districts have detected lead in their drinking water in recent years. To address these issues, districts have taken on additional debt or, in some cases, closed down certain schools entirely.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the state Senate is circulating a bill that aims to replace old drinking fountains with lead-filtering water stations by 2025.

LaTarsha Brown, a member of the Allentown school board, expressed, "It is a grave injustice to have students and teachers in an unsafe environment. This is the opportune time to invest in our youth for a brighter future. We know the funding is available, and we demand that you become an agent of change for education and support the funding of new public school buildings."

According to their argument, the funds provided by the state would release local finances that are currently being used to cover debts, allowing them to be used for educational purposes instead. This influx of funding would also lead to job creation within their communities.

Mark Detterline, a member of the Reading school board, expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of school buildings. He stated that it is unacceptable to still have schools without air conditioning during hot months, lacking the necessary funds for crucial improvements, and jeopardizing the health and safety of students.

Detterline further emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the broad support from leaders across the state. He believes that the Commonwealth has both the resources and the capability to allocate funds towards resolving these issues and asserts that now is the opportune time to take action.

Please note that Pennsylvania Capital-Star, which is affiliated with States Newsroom, is an independent news outlet funded by grants and a coalition of donors. It operates as a 501c(3) public charity. Should you have any inquiries, feel free to contact Editor John Micek at info@penncapital-star.com. Stay updated by following Pennsylvania Capital-Star on Facebook and Twitter.

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