SEARCH NEWS:

 

Pennsylvania Officials want School Provision

HARRISBURG -- If legislators pass a bill allowing slot-machine gambling in Pennsylvania, education officials want a provision added to the state constitution to ensure the profits will benefit schools only.

"The point was one of many added to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association's legislative platform on Thursday. The PSBA is a Harrisburg-based education advocacy group that represents the interests of the state's 501 public school districts.

"Almost 300 officials representing those districts revised the platform during a three-hour meeting yesterday in Hershey as part of the PSBA's annual conference. New points were added on special education, instruction, teacher benefits, school facilities and school funding.

"Tim Allwein, the PSBA's assistant executive director for governmental and member relations, said the platform lays the framework for what PSBA lobbyists will be pushing to legislators in Harrisburg.

"…Chuck Pascal, a member of Armstrong County's Leechburg Area School Board, brought the slots issue to the floor.

"Legislators are considering using slot machines at the state's racetracks as a way of generating the income necessary to allow for a property tax reduction. The House this week approved a measure that would use slots proceeds to fund school districts. The bill that would legalize the games, however, is still under debate.

"In an effort to ensure that potential funding doesn't end up going to other interests, Pascal said the PSBA should support legislation and an amendment to the state constitution to keep the money in schools…"

< Gaming News