Corbett Says Booze Sales Privatization Will Mean $1 Billion For Schools
By John Ostapkovich
MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett is holding out the prospect of a billion-dollar shot in the arm for schools if the state gets out of the liquor sales business.
It is neither certain that the State Store system will be eliminated nor if the Pennsylvania legislature can untangle the competing interests in the beer business. But if it delivers on all fronts, the governor says, it'll mean $1 billion in block grants to schools, aimed at four targets: "school safety, Ready by Three, individualized student learning programs, and the STEM programs -- science, technology, engineering and math."
Appearing along with Corbett today at the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce was James Wigo, superintendent of the Rose Tree-Media school district, where they already put a major focus on third grade.
"By third grade, we know what we have to do in terms of remediation or acceleration," Wigo noted.
Corbett insists the time is right to end the state liquor monopoly.
