At the Parkland School Board workshop session Dec. 16, Dr. Thomas Seidenberger, circuit rider for the Campaign for Fair Funding, gave a presentation on the non-partisan effort to look for more equitable funding of Pennsylvania public schools.

Seidenberger, retired superintendent of East Penn School District, is traveling through Berks, Bucks, Carbon and Lehigh counties to communicate the need for changes in public education funding in the state.

"We want what is fair, sustainable, and predictable," Seidenberger said. "We want to engage people and try for a grass roots campaign with community activists."

Sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Administrators Association, the state School Business Officials and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, the Campaign for Fair Funding is seeking to provide a sense of justice in distribution of education funds to districts of varying economic levels.

Seidenberger said the state funding process does not take into account 70 percent of school districts are experiencing reductions in enrollment.

"The system is not paying attention to demographics," he said.

He noted two hot button topics under discussion are redistribution of funding and the aid ratio.

Although the Campaign for Fair Funding is still in the early stages, Seidenberger is seeking support for the endeavor.

"We want to find consensus and ask boards to get behind us," Seidenberger said. "At some point state Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th, will make a recommendation. Then, we'll all gather round and huddle."

Browne is co-chair of the Basic Education Funding Commission in the state Senate.

State Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150th, serves as co-chair of the commission, which includes Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresque, Secretary of the Budget Charles Zogby, and individuals from the legislature and the governor's administration.

The commission is holding public hearings, which may be viewed online.