News
January 06, 2010

Chester students to get college aid
By John M. Roman
Delaware County Daily Times

Chester Upland School District students will finally be able to attend Delaware County Community College at the lower sponsored rate if amended legislation introduced by state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, is approved.

Pileggi proposes to do this for the district — which currently isn’t a sponsoring school district — through the local share of proposed table games revenue for Chester.

Under state law, school districts and municipalities that sponsor a community college contribute financially to the college’s budget. The tuition rate for students in the county who live in a sponsoring school district is $93 per credit hour, which is half the normal rate of $186 per credit hour for residents who live in a nonsponsoring district.

Chester Upland is among four of the 15 school districts that currently don’t sponsor the community college. The other nonsponsoring districts are Chichester, Marple Newtown and Penn-Delco.

The legislation being considered to authorize table games, Senate Bill 711, could be voted on by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell later this week. The bill includes provisions allocating a portion of the revenue generated by table games to the local communities where the casinos are located. These provisions mirror language in the original law that authorized slot machines.

“The local share of table games for the city of Chester will be used to allow the city and other municipalities (Chester Township and Upland) in the Chester Upland School District to become local sponsors (of the community college),” Pileggi said.

This will give the residents of the district the opportunity “to take community college classes at the same lower rate enjoyed by other sponsoring districts.”

“This is a great opportunity for students in the Chester Upland District, as well as adults, who are interested in furthering their education,” said Chester Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr., adding that it will make higher education more affordable and accessible to Chester residents.

Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Pileggi, said, “That given the severe financial challenges facing CUSD, it is very unlikely that the district would be able to afford the sponsorship fee on its own anytime soon.”

Gregory Thornton, Chester Upland School District superintendent, on Tuesday said, “I think it’s a great day (for the district). This legislation provides access and opportunity that have not been available in the past.

“I anticipate a significant number of young people taking advantage of this opportunity,” Thornton said. “Our students will look forward to continuing their education in a quality institution such as DCCC.”

He extended his gratitude to Pileggi and Butler for their leadership and efforts for the young people of Chester.

Jerome S. Parker, president of DCCC, said he was pleased with the decision to use the local share of table games revenue to provide new opportunities for students.

“For more than 40 years, DCCC has provided educational opportunities to area residents, and this (decision) fits perfectly with our mission to enhance the development of the communities and residents of Delaware County,” Parker said.

“Because of the severe financial strain on the Chester Upland School District, students living here have not been able to benefit from sponsoring district tuition rates,” Pileggi said. “This is a fantastic idea and Mayor Butler deserves great credit for coming up with it.”

Sponsoring school districts include: Garnet Valley (Bethel residents only), Haverford, Interboro, Radnor, Ridley, Rose Tree Media, Southeast Delco, Springfield, Upper Darby, Wallingford-Swarthmore (Swarthmore and Rutledge residents only) and William Penn.

The communities not participating in sponsorship are Concord, Nether Providence, Upper Chichester, Lower Chichester, Marcus Hook, Trainer, Marple and Newtown, Aston, Brookhaven and Parkside.

Revenue from sponsoring school districts or municipalities as in the case of Bethel Township in the Garnet Valley School District is based upon the real estate market value as certified by the State Tax Equalization Board, according to a spokesperson for DCCC.

Chester Upland School District students will finally be able to attend Delaware County Community College at the lower sponsored rate if amended legislation introduced by state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, is approved.

Pileggi proposes to do this for the district — which currently isn’t a sponsoring school district — through the local share of proposed table games revenue for Chester.

Under state law, school districts and municipalities that sponsor a community college contribute financially to the college’s budget. The tuition rate for students in the county who live in a sponsoring school district is $93 per credit hour, which is half the normal rate of $186 per credit hour for residents who live in a nonsponsoring district.

Chester Upland is among four of the 15 school districts that currently don’t sponsor the community college. The other nonsponsoring districts are Chichester, Marple Newtown and Penn-Delco.

The legislation being considered to authorize table games, Senate Bill 711, could be voted on by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell later this week. The bill includes provisions allocating a portion of the revenue generated by table games to the local communities where the casinos are located. These provisions mirror language in the original law that authorized slot machines.

“The local share of table games for the city of Chester will be used to allow the city and other municipalities (Chester Township and Upland) in the Chester Upland School District to become local sponsors (of the community college),” Pileggi said.

This will give the residents of the district the opportunity “to take community college classes at the same lower rate enjoyed by other sponsoring districts.”

“This is a great opportunity for students in the Chester Upland District, as well as adults, who are interested in furthering their education,” said Chester Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr., adding that it will make higher education more affordable and accessible to Chester residents.

Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Pileggi, said, “That given the severe financial challenges facing CUSD, it is very unlikely that the district would be able to afford the sponsorship fee on its own anytime soon.”

Gregory Thornton, Chester Upland School District superintendent, on Tuesday said, “I think it’s a great day (for the district). This legislation provides access and opportunity that have not been available in the past.

“I anticipate a significant number of young people taking advantage of this opportunity,” Thornton said. “Our students will look forward to continuing their education in a quality institution such as DCCC.”

He extended his gratitude to Pileggi and Butler for their leadership and efforts for the young people of Chester.

Jerome S. Parker, president of DCCC, said he was pleased with the decision to use the local share of table games revenue to provide new opportunities for students.

“For more than 40 years, DCCC has provided educational opportunities to area residents, and this (decision) fits perfectly with our mission to enhance the development of the communities and residents of Delaware County,” Parker said.

“Because of the severe financial strain on the Chester Upland School District, students living here have not been able to benefit from sponsoring district tuition rates,” Pileggi said. “This is a fantastic idea and Mayor Butler deserves great credit for coming up with it.”

Sponsoring school districts include: Garnet Valley (Bethel residents only), Haverford, Interboro, Radnor, Ridley, Rose Tree Media, Southeast Delco, Springfield, Upper Darby, Wallingford-Swarthmore (Swarthmore a