Pocono News Section

SSSD Supporters Say Public Beats Private

SSSD Supporters Say Public Beats Private - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 5:42PM EST

HARRISBURG -- Dana Schwenk of Coaldale, Schuylkill County, enrolled his son at the Scranton State School for the deaf after eight unsuccessful years in a private school.
"Since Robert enrolled in April 2006, he's a much different child, he's actually getting an education for the first time," said Schwenk. "We made the move after we realized his behavioral problems were a result of his education, or lack thereof."

Dozens of supporters of the SSSD don't want a private school to take it over, but that's what's slated to happen July 1, after Governor Rendell's proposed 2009-2010 budget didn't include SSSD.

"The Department of Education and Governor Rendell seem to be in a tremendous hurry to make this decision," said Tom Shaffer through an interpretor. He's a 1982 graduate of SSSD. "They're not looking at what's best and what's really most cost-effective for the citizens and taxpayers of Pennsylvania."

Schwenk tells Eyewitness News he doesn't expect people to care about his deaf child, but he says people should care about where their taxpayer money is going.

"The state has been able to educate the deaf children in Scranton at a much cheaper rate than what will happen if it goes private," said Schwenk.

Eyewitness News contacted both SSSD and WPSD to learn more about their costs. About half of the students at both schools are residential, which means they live on campus Monday through Friday and stay with their family on the weekend. For the 2008-2009 school year, SSSD's cost for residential students is $72,666, while WPSD's is $99,919.

The Department of Education tells us home school districts pay 20% of the cost for each of their students who attend SSSD. If the school is privatized, that would jump to 40%. Based on this year's residential costs, the number would grow from $14,553 at SSSD to $39,967 at WPSD.

"By the state not funding the school, that responsibility is passed on to the local level," added Schwenk. "But then the school districts at the local level have to pass that on to the taxpayer."

"No way that I do the math do I come out with any kind of cost savings for anyone involved in this plan," said Ruth Gerrity, the President of SSSD Teacher's Association. "We're the best deal in town."