State House gives threat to drop $25-million of school funding for Philly

KYW - Newsradio 1060 In a preliminary budget vote, the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday refused to continue an extra $25-million appropriation for Philadelphia schools that began after the state takeover of city schools.

Over and over and over again, we've heard that the Pittsburgh Public School District is about to be snatched up "by the state." Well, it seems as if the state has little interest in taking over school districts when it won't even pay for the district it had to assume control over in the past.

I don't think we should call the bluff of the state and drive the local school district into nothingness -- just so we can dare them to take it over. Not at all. But back off with those idle threats.

We've got to fix the local school district. We've got to do it ourselves. We got to make progess. We are making steps. And, there is a long way to go.