Copyright 2000 P.G. Publishing Co.
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
November 9, 2000, Thursday, SOUTH EDITION
SECTION: METRO, Pg. S-9
LENGTH: 345 words
HEADLINE:
WEST MIFFLIN SCHOOLS AUDIT: SPECIAL-ED COSTS, REVENUE DON'T MATCH
BYLINE: JULIE SPOHN
BODY:
The West Mifflin Area School District is experiencing a roughly $ 2
million difference between special-education expenditures and reimbursements.
Business Manager Patrick Sable said the variance stems mostly from
insufficient state funding. But it is not unique. More than 40 districts in
Allegheny County have reported substantial differences between special-education
expenditures and state reimbursements from the 1992-93 school year through the
1998-99 school year.
About 600 West Mifflin students participate in
special-education programs, said Fred Botti, district pupil personnel services
and federal programs coordinator.
This number includes students
receiving gifted education and special-needs education.
John Lawson, a
certified public accountant with Lawson & Co., said in presenting the
district's audit report that it's common for state subsidies to fall behind
special-education costs.
But many legislative efforts to equalize
reimbursements and expenditures have failed, despite lobbying by the
Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens and other groups, Sable said.
School districts are required by the federal Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act to provide education to disabled students.
But the district receives a relatively small federal supplement of about
$ 10,000 for special education in-service training and extraordinary
special-education costs incurred in complying with the act.
Sable said
West Mifflin's present variance between reimbursements and expenditures is
consistent with that of previous years.
Steadily rising tuition costs of
private institutions and professional-service costs contribute to the district's
increased special-education costs. But the district's 2000-01 tax increase will
help pay for these increased special-education expenses, Sable said.
Botti said the district "can't be thinking about the dollar sign" while
budgeting special-education expenses because it's the district's legal duty to
educate its special-education students.
Julie Spohn is a free-lance
writer.
LOAD-DATE: November 9, 2000
