State keeps district in suspense Tuesday, July 11, 2006 • By SARAH CASSI • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | The fate of the school district's request for $2.6 million supplemental funding remains in limbo and district officials said they have no idea when to expect a decision. Business Administrator Bill Poch said the district received a letter from the state Monday requesting more information to determine if the district will receive its supplemental funding. Poch said the state has asked for information such as job descriptions and what field trips would need to be canceled if the district's budget is cut. Poch said the letters have been discouraging. "When does it end?" Poch asked. "We've gotten numerous letters from the commissioner that we should only be spending money in certain areas until we get an approved budget." But officials don't know when they will receive an approved budget and the new school year is less than two months away. District officials plan to meet today to discuss what the district will do if the state continues to wait, Poch said. The state Supreme Court in May ruled the Department of Education could impose flat funding on Abbott districts -- the state's poorest school districts named after the landmark case Abbott v. Burke that ordered equitable per-pupil financing. The ruling did give districts appeal rights to request projects, staff positions or services before an impartial tribunal. The district worked with a fiscal manager provided by the state to cut its requested supplemental funding down from $8 million to $2.6 million. It remains to be seen if the district will receive any of that supplemental funding. Poch said the district's state budget manager suggested the district end courtesy busing for students within two miles of an elementary school and 2.5 miles of the high school. Poch said the district is against ending the practice. "We feel it would be a safety hazard," Poch said, adding that Route 22 is within 2.5 miles of the high school. Reporter Sarah Cassi can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at scassi@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.