Rep. Wild talks Allentown School District's $28-million deficit at hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) highlighted what she called disparities between the Allentown School District and surrounding suburban school districts at a hearing Tuesday.

Wild spoke at the hearing in the Committee on Education and Labor on education inequities, titled “Brown v. Board of Education at 65: A Promise Unfulfilled.”

She said the Allentown School District is facing a $28-million deficit and is at risk of being unable to make payroll.

Wild said the district is paying $60 million for charter schools and is facing rising costs associated with English-language learning.

She said a funding structure keeps affluent schools well-funded while while providing inadequate funding to schools in poorer communities.