Amy Ershler

Loganton

This responds to the March 5 column by Superintendent Redmon, concerning charter school funding. While not mentioning Sugar Valley Rural Charter School (SVRCS) by name, the five-year charter renewal is now. Dr. Redmon says at the end of his column he is not opposed to charter schools. I am not convinced. Dr. Redmon says $11.1 million is paid and $1.5 million would be saved. From what? What is the total figure from which these numbers are derived? That answer is not given. Not all the students at SVRCS come from the KCSD.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania school districts vary greatly in how funds are received. Pennsylvania has had the most inequitable funding system in the nation. The state contribution to local school districts is so low, only about 36% of the costs. The rest of the money comes from local taxes, which results in a huge gap between rich and poor districts.

In February 2023 Commonwealth Court case… “Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer ruled that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional and must be reformed. In a 786-page decision, the court found that ‘All witnesses agree that every child can learn. It is [ ] the obligation of the Legislature, Executive Branch and educators, to make the constitutional promise a reality in this Commonwealth.’ The court order calls for the ‘…the Executive and Legislative branches of government and administrative agencies with expertise in the field of education… in conjunction with Petitioners, to devise a plan to address the constitutional deficiencies identified herein.’ The court rebuffed [the] argument that the current system is adequate, saying ‘In the 21st century, students need more than a desk, chair, pen, paper and textbooks.'” paschoolswork.org/education-funding-lawsuit/

A bipartisan legislative commission has been reconvened and has proposed billions of dollars in new funding for K-12 education. Dr. Redmon does not mention how the consequences of this lawsuit can help ALL students in the KCSD.

Investing in schools and our students is so important, something that the superintendent fails to mention. If attending a Charter School means success for certain students, that educational avenue should be capitalized upon and endorsed. If attending CMHS means success for certain students, that educational avenue should be pursued for those students. In other words, we should be open to all possible avenues for the success of our children and youth.

The Charter School law does not mention costs. Among other things, the law provides that charter schools need to be accountable to meet academic standards, improve and increase learning opportunities for all students, encourage innovative teaching methods and create new professional opportunities for teachers and provide parents and pupils with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system. See 24 Purdon’s Statues Section 1701-A. These goals are accomplished by SVRCS.

The US News and World Report ranks high schools in each state and nationally. There are 656 ranked schools in Pennsylvania, and 17,655 schools nationally. Bucktail is ranked No. 320 in the state, and No. 8,073 nationally. CMHS is ranked as No. 499 in Pennsylvania, and No. 13,242 nationally. SVRCS is ranked No. 341 in Pennsylvania, and No. 8,813 nationally. Out of 3,022 charter school high schools, the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School is ranked as No. 341. www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/pennsylvania/rankings.

There are very positive things being accomplished at the SVRCS, which has been in existence for 25 years. As recently as March 10, 2025, the Lock Haven Express reported how SVRCS students competed in a national agronomy event and “…tore through the competition.” One person from SVRCS placed first in the nation. How does one put a price tag on that type of success?

Is it not time to accept that SVRCS is a good and right investment for the community? I implore the school board, and Dr. Redmon, to look more at how important it is to invest in the future of our students. Let now be the time for all the schools in the KCSD to work together for the betterment of our students, who will be the ones taking care of our communities in the future.