Price of Service Cuts: 24 Adult Literacy Staff Cut, Classes Postponed in Northampton Community College
September 8, 2009
Deep cuts to public services are being considered in Harrisburg as lawmakers and the Governor work to resolve the budget crisis. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) is tracking news reports on the potential impact of these service cuts, as well as the impact of the state's budget impasse on local communities across Pennsylvania.
Today, we look at the uncertain future of adult literacy programs at Northampton Community College, which laid off 13 full-time and 11 part-time staff due to proposed budget cuts in Harrisburg and postponed program classes due to the budget impasse.
The Express-Times reported September 8, 2009 that Northampton Community College has postponed its Adult Literacy programs indefinitely due to the budget impasse and cut 13 full-time and 11 part-time employees due to uncertainty over the budget. Before the budget crisis, Northampton Community College planned on expanding the programs by $2 million. Now the programs, which include GED and English as a Second Language, have contracted at a time when more people are out of work and in need of basic skills to get back to work.
More information about how proposed cuts will hurt Pennsylvanians can be found at PBPC's 30 Ways in 30 Days Service Cuts Will Hurt Pennsylvanians, which examines proposed cuts to public education, college costs, hospitals, children's health care, senior services, state police patrols, and agricultural programs, among other areas. Read more stories in PBPC's Price of Service Cuts series.
Read The Express-Times article below.
Northampton Community College adult literacy programs slashed amid Pennsylvania budget uncertainty
Douglas B. Brill and Sara K Satullo
September 08, 2009
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/125238274121000.xml&coll=3
When Northampton Community College's new adult literacy director started his job in May, he planned to expand more than $2 million in grant-funded programs.
Four months later, Andrew Doren's plans have changed as have those of school districts contracted to teach adults for the college.
Pennsylvania's budget impasse means the college has received no state money this year. Even federal dollars that usually pass through Harrisburg are tied up.
Instead of expanding adult literacy programs such as GED and English as a Second Language classes as Doren hoped, the programs have shrunk.
Bethlehem, Nazareth, Bangor and Pen Argyl area school districts each indefinitely postponed adult literacy classes.
"We're all kind of upset because we want the program to get going," said Woody Metzger, who runs district-based adult literacy in the Nazareth, Bangor and Pen Argyl area school districts.
"No one knows how much (funding) is going to be cut. It's backed up. Education funding is killing everybody."
Due to uncertainty over state money, the college has laid off 13 full- and 11 part-time employees, most of them in adult literacy programs, spokeswoman Heidi Butler said.
Two other staffers were made part time and one more layoff is expected this month.
Those laid off "were doing important work and doing it well for adults who are working hard to develop the skills they need to succeed in the workplace," Butler said. "So it was heartbreaking."
Read more stories in PBPC's Price of Service Cuts series.
