State $ to Fund H-H Kindergarten Support Program

For the second year in a row, has received an unexpected windfall of state funding above the amount factored into the district’s 2012-2013 budget.

On Monday, the Hatboro-Horsham School Board approved a budget supplement of $112,990. Those following the , would cover the district’s accountability block grant. The state-funded grant provides for early education programs aimed at improving student achievement.

District officials said the allotment would cover the expense of a kindergarten support teacher, a full-time assistant, a literacy coach an elementary math coach, as well as the expense of books, materials and supplies for about 30 kindergarteners.

Pennsylvania’s Accountability Block Grant program began in 2004-2005 with a $200 million investment. Hatboro-Horsham School District Superintendent Curtis Griffin said the program’s future is not certain beyond the upcoming school year.

“It’s always going to be each year – is it going to be in the governor’s budget?” Griffin said.

On the federal level, the roughly $650,000 the school district receives each year for federal impact aid is expected to continue for the upcoming school year, the district’s Director of Business Affairs, Bob Reichert, said.

“The president had line-itemed out impact aid,” Reichert said of President Obama’s suggested budget cut for towns, like Horsham, that are home to military installations.

and were met with widespread opposition. At least for the time being, Reichert said legislators succeeded in restoring the funding. The district is hopeful that federal impact aid will continue until 862 acres of the 1,100-acre is transferred from the military to a new owner, who would then be responsible for paying local taxes. It could be several years until the land changes hands and even longer – up to 25 years – until it is completely redeveloped.  

“We’re hopeful to receive the amount of funds that we received in the past,” Reichert said. “Impact aid could get cut somewhat … but not as significant as if it was reduced to zero.”