CITY SCHOOLS TO BENEFIT FROM $5 MILLION YEARLY IN SLOTS PROCEEDS
PHILADELPHIA, October 31, 2006 – The Philadelphia School District will
receive $5 million annually from the city’s share of slot machine gambling
revenue, under a provision that state Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia) included
in gambling reform legislation recently approved in Harrisburg.
The district will use the money for classroom
modernization initiatives.
Fumo announced the annual grant today, along with
school district CEO Paul Vallas, in the computer lab at the Abigail Vare School
on E. Moyamensing Ave.
“In the ever-more complicated technical world in which
we live, students must be prepared to use all of the modern tools at our
disposal. Society now functions primarily through an information economy, and
when students step out into the adult world, or even into the world of higher
education, they have to be familiar with state-of-the-art technology if they are
to have any hope of succeeding,” Fumo said.
“The equipment in the classrooms must be up to date,
and the school buildings themselves must be places that are conducive to high
academic achievement. No matter what is going on around them, no matter the
particular conditions of the neighborhoods in which they rest, schools must be
havens of modern learning,” he added.
Under the original gambling law enacted in 2004, which
Fumo had a major hand in writing, cities and counties where slot machines are
located will receive a combined four percent of the gross terminal revenue
generated by the casinos within their jurisdiction. In Philadelphia’s case, that
should be about $24 million per year once the two casinos in the city are fully
operational.
Recognizing that Philadelphia public school education
has improved under Vallas, but also convinced of the need to upgrade equipment
and facilities, Fumo spearheaded an effort to add a provision to Senate Bill 862
that would direct the first $5 million of the city’s gambling revenue each year
to the schools for modernization. The clause was contained in the bill when the
legislature passed it on October 27.
“We are delighted to be recipients of such significant
funding that will aid us in our mission to expand our classroom modernization
initiatives, “said School Reform Commission Chairman James Nevels. “Senator Fumo
is indeed a friend of children and public education in the City of Philadelphia
and we extend our sincere appreciation.”
Fumo said the district should be able to leverage the
$5 million annual sum to obtain as much as $70 million for projects in the near
term.
Initial Philadelphia School District classroom reforms
developed a standardized curriculum and managed instructional system . To
maximize the benefit of those reforms, the district wants to provide all
students in 5,000 6-12 grade classrooms a fully integrated 21st Century Digital
Classroom by 2008.
Each modernized classroom will include:
Wireless internet access
Laptop computers for each of the students
Wall mounted interactive smart boards
Ceiling mounted digital projector
Printer and workstation areas tied to the Local Area Network
Modular furniture for flexible instruction
Enhanced lighting
Electrical upgrades
“Thanks to Senator Fumo, our goal to equip every
classroom within the School District of Philadelphia with technological
advancements, along with educational supports can now be fully realized,” said
Vallas.
Fumo noted that this is one of several benefits that
gambling will bring to the residents of Philadelphia. In addition to the local
share – now $5 million for the school district and $19 million for the city
budget – Philadelphia residents will see their taxes cut by approximately $140
million per year once gambling is fully implemented statewide. Gambling revenue
will be used to reduce the wage tax for workers and property taxes for many
senior citizens.
Fumo also hears from many Philadelphians who say they
are anxious to be able to play slots at the convenient local casinos, rather
than travel to Atlantic City.
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