Sen. Baker Questions Proposed Closure of Scranton State School for the Deaf

Harrisburg – During Senate Appropriations Committee hearings today on the governor’s proposed state budget, Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) took issue with “the method and manner” in which the state Department of Education made its decision to close the Scranton State School for the Deaf.

Baker told Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak that she was troubled by how the decision was announced to parents and students – who received fed-ex letters of the closure with no advance warning or rationale for the closing.  Many students and teachers from the school attended the hearing, held at the state capitol.

“Last year, you said you could not recommend any cuts to the education budget and now you are proposing two significant cuts involving students with special and unique needs,” Baker said, referring also to the proposed closure of the Scotland School for Veteran’s Children.

Baker, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, is planning a joint Senate-House hearing next Wednesday on the closing of the Scotland School.  She also urged the department to reconsider the closing of the Scranton School for the Deaf, particularly since no specific accommodations have been made for its students. 

“You’ve indicated that these children can be better served through your proposal – a plan that is not in place and does not offer any sense of stability to these children and their families,” Baker said.  “You’re saying that you think you can have a program in place.  I think what we’re saying is that much more work should have been done before moving forward with an unknown program.”

Baker added that she supports a resolution sponsored by Senator Robert Mellow (D-22) that would require the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to evaluate the proposed closing and come back to the Legislature with recommendations.

She said her top priority is ensuring that students who attend the school receive the services they need to be successful. 

Press control + click on the link below to view Sen. Baker questioning Secretary Zahorchak

http://nova.pasenategop.com/Budget/2009/030309/baker-ED.wmv