of employees at the Westinghouse Atomic Power Laboratory, West Mifflin, Pa. and Bureau of Mines employees. The impact of these two federally related projects add approximately 100 students to our enrollment. In an elementary setting this means 3 classrooms of youngsters which require teachers, rooms, and materials. Our local tax rate is currently 78 mills based on 30 percent valuation. Cutback of support through P.L. 874 would of necessity cause an increase in local taxes or a cutback in educational services currently being provided. E.S.E.A. Title I has enabled us to provide needed services for the economically and educationally disadvantaged. We have used the funds to offer tutorial and remedial services, assistance to pupils with learning disabilities as well as those with psychological handicaps. Title II has provided needed assistance to our library programs. Title III has permitted us, in modest ways, to attempt programs of an innovative or exemplary nature. The evaluation of these programs by outside auditors has been laudatory. We feel that the money and programs implemented through E.S.E.A. funds has enabled, not only our district, but all school districts to provide necessary services and experiences for children which otherwise could not be offered. Your support of these programs in the past is greatly appreciated and your continued support is strongly urged. Sincerely, ROY L. COGAR, Principal. NORTHERN VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN WITH Hon. CARL PERKINS, LEARNING DISABILITIES, Arlington, Va., February 28, 1978. Chairman, House Education and Labor Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN PERKINS: I am writing to express the concern of the Executive Board and members of the Northern Virginia Association for Children With Learning Disabilities as to the possible drastic reduction in impact aid funds to our local school districts. Should the Category B funds be deleted as proposed, the operating budgets of our school systems will suffer severe losses this year, and greater losses in Fiscal Year 1974. In Fairfax County alone, the estimated loss of revenues is projected at a total of $19 million over the next two years. Although Fairfax School officials anticipate an increase in basic State aid this year, a net revenue loss of $11 million could be expected next year. In our view reductions, of this severity, in Federal aid will result in serious consequences for both school and over-all county budgets. Should these reductions occur, two undesirable alternatives seem likely to compensate for the loss: a substantial rise in real estate taxes-with a $19 million loss, this might reach as high as 76¢ on the real estate tax. Another result, we fear, would be outright drastic reduction in the amount of county appropriation for school budgets. Cuts amounting to $5 to $13 million over the next two years in school budgets would obviously pose threatening results for any of the special programs now underway in our school systems. So much progress has been made in recent years to provide the necessary assistance to children having special learning difficulties. New programs for training resource teachers, teaching aids, and program development and evaluation, and specially designed facilities for handicapped children are but a few examples of the projects initiated by Fairfax County in the past few years. As parents of children with learning handicaps who have fought long and hard for such progress in our schools, we are also realistic enough to see the possible threats that impact aid cuts will pose to the vital programs which serve our children. The County Boards of Supervisors, School Boards, and Superintendents of our local school districts have petitioned Congress in opposition to the proposed impact aid reductions. We citizens join with them in urging you to introduce and pass legislation to restore this critical funding this year, and in future years. Sincerely yours, (Mrs.) DONNA E. MUNKASEY, President. METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, Hon. CARL D. PERKINS, DEAR CONGRESSMAN PERKINS: The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the organization of the fifteen major local jurisdictions in the Washington Metropolitan Area, wishes to underscore the concerns expressed by its member governments about proposed reductions in the Administration's Budget for FY 1974 of funds to be made available through the Federal School Aid to Impact Areas Program. This program, originally legislated in 1953, is a means by which the Federal Government can fulfill its obligation to provide payment to the communities in which it operates, in lieu of the tax revenues which would be received from private enterprise. In this way, the Federal Government can partially underwrite the cost of educating the children of countless employees who work and/or live on property from which the community derives no tax income. Local governments will not be able to withstand further reductions in funding of this program without sacrificing the quality of other local programs. Because members of the COG Board of Directors feel very strongly that this program is essential, the Board unanimously adopted the enclosed Resolution at its meeting on February 14, 1973. It is being sent to you in the hope and belief that it will receive your most serious consideration. Sincerely yours, Enclosure. MARTHA V. PENNINO, Chairman, Board of Directors. METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, WASHINGTON, D.C. RESOLUTION URGING FUNDING OF THE FEDERAL SCHOOL AID IMPACT PROGRAM Whereas, the Administration Budget for FY 1974 contains further reductions in the funds made available to local governments through the Federal School Aid to Impact Areas Program (20 U.S.C., ch. 13, ch. 19); and Whereas, funds from that program provide a significant portion of the school budgets for all of the local governments in the Washington Metropolitan Area; and Whereas, there are no adequate federal funds from any other education programs which will replace the funds lost through the curtailment of the Aid to Impacted Areas Program: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments: (1) That the Board supports the position and efforts taken by those members of Congressional delegations representing the Washington Metropolitan Area who have called for continued funding of the Federal School Aid to Impacted Areas Program (2) That copies of this Resolution be sent to the members of Congress representing the Washington Metropolitan Area and to the appropriate Congressional Committee CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies that: (1) He is the duly appointed, qualified and acting Certifying Officer of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and keeper of the records thereof, including the journal of its proceedings. (2) The copy of the Resolution R15-73 annexed hereto entitled: Resolution Urging Funding of the Federal School Aid Impact Program is a true, correct and compared copy of the original Resolution as finally adopted at a meeting held on February 14, 1973, which was duly convened in conformity with all applicable requirements; a proper quorum was present throughout said meeting, and the resolution was duly proposed, considered and adopted in conformity with applicable requirements. Witness my hand and seal of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments this 23rd day of February, 1973. MADELEINE B. SCHALLER, Staff Attorney. THE OXFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Chairman CARL D. PERKINS, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN PERKINS: At this time I would like to express my serious concern that Public Law 874 funds may be restricted. This program is crucial to a community such as Oxford, Massachusetts. We presently are providing a quality education to approximately eighty-five pupils who can be classified under Public Law 81-874. If Public Law 81-874 is restricted or discontinued, our community could lose as much as $25,000.00 in reimbursements from the Federal Government during calendar year 1973. Since this additional financial burden is created by federal activities, it is my strong feeling that the Federal Government must recognize its responsibility and continue to help communities such as ours provide a quality education for these youngsters. Should Federal funds for Public Law 81-874 be curtailed or discontinued, it will be necessary for the Oxford School Department to eliminate the existing program since the local tax rate is too high to be able to absorb this sum. This would be unfortunate since the youngsters who could benefit the most from the present program will be denied its benefits. In closing I solicit your aid to fully fund Public Law 81-874. Your efforts regarding this matter will be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, JOHN F. MALONEY, Superintendent of Schools. DEPARTMENT OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS, KNOXVILLE SCHOOLS, Knoxville, Tenn., March 23, 1973. Hon. CARL PERKINS, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN PERKINS: As per request of Mr. Aslinger, Superintendent of Schools, I am writing to you for purposes of supplying pertinent information relative to the PL 874 Impact Areas Federal Program which is slated for a tremendous cutback in funding. A brief description of the situation follows: Public law 874 impacted areas assistance program For the past thirteen years the Knoxville City School System has been receiving federal assistance based upon the number of children attending the Knoxville City School System whose parents are employed on federally owned property or whose parents are on active military duty (Section 2-B). Payments under this program are made under the above two described classifications and for children whose parents are residents on federally owned property (Section 2-A). The Knoxville School System does not have any youngsters who qualify in the last classification. During the current school year according to our count there were 1917 children qualifying under Section 2-B and 232 children whose parents were on active military duty. According to the latest policy of the U.S. Office of Education, payments for the current school year will be based upon eligibility under Section 2-A or under the Uniformed Services Personnel Provision in Section 2-B. No payments will be made for other Section 2-B students. This, of course, reduces our eligibility from 2149 students to 232. For the current school year we are scheduled to receive payment for each eligible participant at the rate of $305.89 per child. For the current school year we can, therefore ,expect a maximum of $70,966 under the existing revised USOE policy. At the beginning of the school year $335,000 was budgeted in anticipated revenue from this program and unless the revised USOE policy is rescinded, the Knoxville City School System can expect a cut in PL 874 funding of $264,334. PL 874 funds are appropriated for use in the general operating budget without categorical restriction except for the provision that they cannot be used for school construction purposes. In view of the fact that no general announcement has been made relative to the change in the U.S. Office of Education policy and that the change in policy occurred after the beginning of the 1972-73 school year, we were totally unprepared for the situation. Our school system will suffer a considerable loss in revenue because of this unexpected turn of events and probably will be required to end the school year with a fund deficit through no fault of our own. Anticipated revenue from this program has already been spent. We, of course, are hopeful that the revised policy mentioned above will be rescinded and the funding cut restored. Any effort on your part on behalf of obtaining support for rescinding the policy will be sincerely appreciated. Yours truly, HARRY GILLESPIE, Hon. CARL D. PERKINS, Director of Federal Programs. MCCRACKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: The McCracken County school district is facing a special problem that requires your advice and guidance. The basic concern is centered on the AEC plant and its immunity from taxation. This facility, operated by Union Carbide, provides employment for 1250 persons. Most of the employees reside here in McCracken County and Paducah and send their children to the area schools. All the land occupied by AEC, several thousand acres, was at one time on the tax rolls. It is obvious that the school district has been deprived of income by the presence of the facility. Although it must be stated that the presence of AEC is a positive factor in the regional economic picture, it produces a negative effect on the local educational financial structure. Compare the AEC situation with that of TVA's Shawnee Steam Plant, another government installation in McCracken County. TVA is providing assistance to the district by "in lieu of tax" payments-last year, 1971-1972, TVA in lieu of tax payment to the district was over a third of a million dollars. How do the two governmental agencies differ in their relationship with this community? They are different in that the TVA is a working governmental agency hiring their own staff while the AEC is an agency whose function, in the case of this plant, is performed by Union Carbide under AEC direction. Does it not seem reasonable that AEC would have less claim to exempt status than TVA? TVA occupies approximately 2,500 acres, or a somewhat smaller acreage than AEC. Last year's income to this school district from P.L. 874 was only $135,000 and the indications are that even that source of help is going to be discontinued. The amounts received under P.L. 874 through the years have been less than adequate, less than equal to the cost of education for the children brought to the district by the plant's work force. Tax rates on the average residence provide only half the local revenue that is required to pay for the education of one child. A home assessed at $15,000 yields $65.10 in general property taxes for school purposes. The cost of educating one child is $575.00 per year with $110.00 coming from the local district. The problem is obvious. The local taxpayers are paying the bill for educating AEC employees' children. This is not true for other employers and plant owners. All are meeting their obligations to the local government agencies. The AEC plant is an important and welcome part of the economy of this entire area. No action should ignore this fact. On the other hand, it is essential that local government services be maintained at an adequate level. It can be shown that local government services have been adversely affected by the presence of AEC as a tax-free agency. There is a need to place the AEC grounds and facilities on the tax rolls, preferably on a retroactive basis, or to obtain an "in lieu of tax" settlement proportionately comparable to that received from TVA. Be assured that we are also concerned about all the cuts in assistance to education that have been threatened by the administration in Washington. If allowed to occur, the effect on Kentucky schools will be devastating. We would prefer, however, that those questions be considered separately from the one posed in this communication. Your advice and assistance will be greatly appreciated. We need information regarding the manner in which AEC obtained its current status and more important, the manner in which redress can be obtained. Thank you for your attention and concern. Sincerely, DAVID K. STEWART, Superintendent. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1973 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1973 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, GENERAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 9:10 a.m., pursuant to recess, in room 2175, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Carl D. Perkins [chairman of the subcommittee] presiding. Present: Representatives Perkins, Lehman, Quie, Bell, Dellenback and Huber. Staff members present: John F. Jennings, majority counsel; and Christopher Cross, minority legislative associate. Eydie Gaskins, special assistant. Chairman PERKINS. The committee will come to order. A quorum is present. Our first witness this morning is Mr. John Udell, teacher, Dade County, Fla. Come around, Mr. Udell. I am going to call on my colleague, Congressman Lehman, who is an outstanding member of this committee and who is very interested in education in this country, to introduce you. Mr. LEHMAN. Thank you Mr. Chairman. I want to comment for the record that Mr. John Udell has done an amazing job in a new field in one of our elementary schools and that is what we call contract performance. I think his statement will speak for itself. I believe it is going to be a process that is going to have to be dealt with; it is going to be beneficial; and it is going to be aligned with the necessity of continuing the categorical programs in this ESEA programs bill. So with that, I will let you speak for yourself, John. STATEMENT OF JOHN UDELL, TEACHER, DADE COUNTY, FLA. Mr. UDELL. My name is John Udell. I am from Dade County, Fla. I am a classroom teacher. Thank you for the opportunity of speaking here. It is a great honor to me personally to be here and to represent some of the teachers in Dade County. As teachers we recognize one thing, it is this body, the Congress of the United States that can give and has given the moral leadership and financial leadership necessary for adequate and necessary advancement in the field of education. |