CUMBERLAND COUNTY: Following its rejection last week of a state-funded program that would have awarded $10,000 to $15,000 to qualified student teachers, the Cumberland Valley School District has reversed its decision. For reasons of fairness, the school district first refused to take part in the initiative.
Not all student-teachers would get a stipend under this program. A lottery scheme that would allow chance, or luck, determine which of the 12,000 student instructors who applied in April would receive a stipend would be the deciding factor.
Increasing financing in stipends
At first, the Cumberland County School District reasoned that no one could have a stipend if everyone else couldn’t. They are now reversing their decision.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency contacted Cumberland County Superintendent Mark Blanchard over the weekend, stating that they “needed answers.” Blanchard remained silent over those responses. This is definitely a win for the district’s five teachers, who will now get a stipend.
As a result of the state’s expressed desire for it to benefit everyone, Governor Shapiro suggested increasing financing for stipends in order to make them available to more students.