Governor Wolf’s proposed budget includes new investments from pre-k through higher education..These new investments include $75 m for pre-k/Head Start. $100 m for Basic Education, $25m for special ed, and a 2% increase for the state system of higher education, according to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano.  In addition, the budget includes a new plan of accountability to target 15 under performing schools in 3 districts.  The plan invests $2 m in state funding to leverage $1 in federal funding.  These funds will be used to conduct diagnostic audits to determine specific district and school needs, to develop improvements plans, and to prepare for implementing these plans in the following school year.. The districts will have 3 years to demonstrate improved performance.  For those that fail to  improve performance the Dept. of Education will assess the next steps, which could include placing the school under state control or closing the school. A school breakfast initiative will have a $2m state investment, it will be drawn down up to $20m to expand in schools where at least 60% of the students are eligible for free and reduced price lunches. The investment, under the proposal includes funding to offer competitive grants to help  schools address current barriers to participate.

Ambridge School Board recognized. MLK<Jr Oratorical contest winners at last night’s meeting  and junior high school Science Fair Winners  Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano reports that the winners of the oratorical contest were 4th and 5th graders from the district’s schools, 4th grader Madelyn Palmer from Economy placed first, Mackenzie Sutton from State St., a 5th grader.First place won $50, and 2nd place winners Jared Astorino, highland Elementary Madison Holcomb , State St.2nd place won $25 The winners received a plaque and certificate of Achievement from the PA House of Representatives and the Senate,  The CCBC STEM ACADEMY   is being added to the high school curriculum..  The district participates in CCBC’s Aviation and Health Academys.    The programs allow students to receive college credits while in high school.

Tom Zelesnik, retired executive director of the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit, spent 44 1/2 years in education is now  one of eight circuit riders , advocates from across the state advocating school funding spoke at last night’s Aliquippa School Board meeting.  According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, Zelesnik said the  program  focuses more on in investment in public education and is funded by the William Penn Foundation out of Philadelphia. Zelesnik told the board, “Don’t be fooled by the Property Tax Independence Act. After hearing Zelesnik’s talk about the program the board unanimously adopted a resolution opposing a resolution to eliminate school property tax. The board approved salaries for spring sports coaches Baseball head coach Danny Bible , $3,762.70, asst. John Simmons, $3,215.60, softball head coach Ray Pranskey, %4,182.90, asst. Charles Brantner, $2,788.60, track and field (boys and girls) Sherman McBride, $5,882.80, asst. coach, Vashawn  Patrick, $3,058.90. Supt. Dr. Pete Carbone announced that the boys basketball playoff game against Charleroi is at Baldwin High School at 2 :30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets will be on sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the high school office, Adults $7, students $5, no  tickets will be sold at the game.

Budget director Ricardo Luckow discussed preliminary figures on the state of Beaver County finances with an audit about four months down the road. Beaver County Radio’s Greg Benedetti, according to Luckow, the actual county debt in 2015 was 9-point-one million dollars. 2016 ended with the county between one and two-million in the red. Seven million dollars from bond refunding and 1-point-two million from the early retirement program helped pay down the debt. As for current expenditures, wage increases to county employees currently total 5-hundred-forty thousand dollars.