Members of the state Senate Education Committee unveiled a sweeping package of legislative proposals Tuesday to give public schools relief from state mandates so they can better cope with looming cuts in state aid.  The 18 bills would include requiring a two-thirds vote by a school board to increase property taxes, allowing teacher furloughs for economic reasons without regard to seniority, a two-year moratorium on requirements that teachers engage in continuing education and professional development, and allowing schools along Pennsylvania’s borders to end transportation for students attending out-of-state private schools.  Just as importantly, the senators are also calling for increasing the bidding threshold for school districts from $10,000 to $25,000.

Mandate relief has been sought by school boards for years, but the issue is gaining serious momentum this year in the wake of Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposals to cut $1 billion in the basic instruction subsidy to public schools as well as other education programs and as federal stimulus money runs out.

Hopefully, if these reforms move forward, townships will not be left behind, especially in the bid limit proposals.