The following was emailed by the Lower Merion School District to all public school parents in mid-December. Because of the nature of the content, Budget Reform for Student Learning believed it was necessary to prepare the commentary that follows. The original words are in black and our commentary is in blue (italics). While you read this, please keep in mind our overriding concern is the distorted priorities that guide the Board's spending.
In September, the Board hired an issue advocacy firm to, among other things, "prepare materials for distribution to parents." The cost of hiring this firm and distributing its materials is a diversion of resources away from Student Learning. The real purpose of this expenditure is to make this board look good in an election year. It is also intended to influence the electorate to vote for the New Lower Merion high school when it comes before the voters as part of the 2008-09 budget referendum. Spending the public funds in this manner is a clear violation of Act 1. For more information on the prohibition of the use of public funds to influence a vote, read "Is Our School Board Ignoring The Law?" posted elsewhere on our website.
To read the full text of the District's email with our commentary, (click here).
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