Pocono News Section

State Budget Meeting Turns Focus to SSSD

State Budget Meeting Turns Focus to SSSD - Friday, June 19, 2009 at 5:08PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Friday, Jun 19, 2009 @ 05:08pm EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Eyewitness News was the only news team at a town hall meeting in Lackawanna County Friday. It was intended to discuss the state budget deficit, but the focus quickly turned to the privatization of the Scranton State School for the Deaf.

"We know as parents know this is not a done deal," said Dana Schwenk, whose son attends SSSD. "The budget hasn't been passed, the House hasn't voted on this."

Dana Schwenk was one of several people who used the meeting as a chance to ask about the proposal to cut SSSD from the '09-'10 state budget.

"The Scranton School for the Deaf is being loudly heard in Harrisburg," said Miriam Fox, executive director of the House Appropriations Committee. "They've come to the hearings and we're very aware of their concerns and needs."

In less than two weeks, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is set to take over SSSD, making it a privately-run charter school.

The Schwenks are concerned for their son, Robert, who has cerebral palsy. They've been told the new school doesn't take students with disabilities beyond deafness.

"Robert is in the life skills program, and it's still unclear if the charter school will operate a class like that," said Schwenk.

Fox gave SSSD families reason to not give up.

"I did say it in there: It's not over yet," said Fox. "And we're still looking at how we may approach this whole deal."

That's music to Schwenk's ears. He hopes the school will remain under state control, and his son will continue to succeed.

"The Pennsylvania Department of Education would like you to believe this is a done deal," said Schwenk. "It's nice to hear words that confirm this is only a proposal."

Representative Kevin Murphy has introduced legislation to keep the school open under state control while a cost-analysis is done. It has yet to be voted on.