MNSD Needs to Pass Budget That Will Enhance Educational Programs

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by a Broomall resident.

Dear Editor:

The Marple Newtown School District is at a critical point in charting the path forward for the quality of education that is provided to the children or our community. Budget discussions are underway that can make a difference between preserving programs that currently exist and adding programs that will enhance student achievement, or facing potential cuts.

I’ve been attending School Board meetings for three years. I’ve seen the steady chipping away of programs and services.  Whether you call them “cuts” or “reduction” in services or what are almost “hidden” losses, I see that class sizes are growing, early intervention programs have been curtailed, and enrichment programs like field trips and visiting authors have all but disappeared.

We will not have a competitive school district if we continue this slide. Hundreds of community members turned out to a meeting in the fall to express their concerns. People do not want to see us become a district without exceptional academic programs, leading libraries and technology, and well-balanced extracurriculars.

Whether or not you currently have children in Marple Newtown schools, the public school system is the single greatest asset that we have to raise our property values, keep our community vibrant, and most importantly, to provide a quality education to the 3,500 kids enrolled in the district. At this relatively early stage in the budget process, with so many factors still unknown, the only responsible path is to keep the budget moving forward with all options open. 

People flee neighborhoods with deteriorating schools. I don’t want to see that happen in Broomall and Newtown Square. I encourage community members to attend the voting meeting on February 12 at 6 p.m. or contact the School Board and ask them to keep Marple Newtown schools strong by passing a budget that will enhance educational programs. The need is great and the stakes for all of us are too high.

Sincerely,

Ellen Trantas
Broomall