Sequestration Won't Affect Lower Moreland Schools

According to the Lower Moreland School District, it is not expecting to make any cuts this year or for the 2013-14 school year with a possible sequestration ahead.

Congress has until Thursday at midnight to act or else sequestration will be in effect. According to the White House press release, hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs and services for children, seniors, people with mental illness and men and women in uniform could suffer from a series of automatic cuts  - from what’s formally being called the sequester.

Lower Moreland School District, however, doesn’t expect to see any changes to its programs and budget even if the worst does happen come March 1.

“We are not anticipating cuts to our program due to sequestration in the 2012-13 or the 2013-14 school years,” School District Director of Human Resources Cherly Galdo said. “Beyond that time period, we are not able to predict.”  

In nearby townships, like Upper Moreland, business managers have decided on 8-percent cuts to take the possible sequester into account.

If enacted, the cuts would have the following effects on Pennsylvania schools this year:

• Teachers and Schools: Pennsylvania will lose approximately $26.4 million in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 360 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 29,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 90 fewer schools would receive funding.
• Education for Children with Disabilities: In addition, Pennsylvania will lose approximately $21.4 million in funds for about 260 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.
• Work-Study Jobs: Around 3,160 fewer low income students in Pennsylvania would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college and around 2,290 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college.
• Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 2,300 children in Pennsylvania, reducing access to critical early education.