Yes, as of noon on Tuesday, July 6, the Pennsylvania State Budget was signed by Gov. Ed Rendell.  Since the signing was to occur at the nearby Elmwood Elementary School in Mechanicsburg, we went to that event. It was scheduled in the cafeteria and my husband and I were the first to be seated. Then cameras began to arrive and finally there were 14 television and newspaper cameras. Several photographers went to the table and took close pictures of the document page that the governor would sign.

A young girl sitting in front of us was dressed in red, white and blue with a head dress that had two red, white and blue stars.  After a couple of hundred people arrived some teachers escorted a group of about 50 students from first through fifth grade who sat on the floor in front of the table where the signing would occur. Next Gov. Rendell was introduced by the Superintendent of the Mechanicsburg School District. The governor said that Elmwood School was a symbol of the progress that has been made via special educational funding. The PSSA testing this past year indicated the 80% of Elmwood students are on or above grade level. Mathematics scores had improved more than reading scores but the existing reading scores were already above mathematics scores.

The governor said, “After the intense debate and tough choices we had to make to craft this budget, I’m gratified that the General Assembly and I could agree that continued investment in education is tremendously important to Pennsylvania’s kids and an investment in the commonwealth’s future,”

After the budget was signed the governor asked students a few questions and when the student who answered was correct the governor gave him or her a pen with the state symbol on it. The governor stayed for awhile and had his picture taken with some students.

It was an interesting event to occur in our nearby school.