Teachers' Union Endorses Woman Who Voted to Lay Off 89 Scranton Teachers, Then Quit
Bresnahan Campaign Releases Statement on PSEA Endorsement of Paige Cognetti
SCRANTON, PA — The Bresnahan for Congress campaign today congratulated Paige Cognetti on earning the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, an organization representing nearly 200,000 teachers and educators, including the 89 Scranton specialty program teachers Cognetti voted to lay off in December 2017 before abandoning her school board seat entirely just twelve months later.
“We are truly in awe,” said Peter Brath, Bresnahan campaign spokesperson. “In December 2017, Paige Cognetti voted to pass a $157 million budget that laid off 89 teachers in specialty programs like art and music over the objections of parents, students, and the teachers union itself. Then, twelve months later, she resigned from the school board mid-term to take a political appointment in Harrisburg. Now that same union is endorsing her for Congress. We genuinely tip our cap.”
PSEA President Aaron Chapin praised Cognetti for ensuring “educators and support professionals are respected and treated fairly.” Scranton parents who stood up at that December 2017 board meeting and begged the board not to cut their children's art and music teachers may remember it differently.
“Congressman Bresnahan has never voted to cut a single teacher's job.” continued the Bresnahan campaign spokesperson. “He has never abandoned an elected post. And he isn't asking the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania to forget what he's actually done. Paige Cognetti is asking voters to do exactly that.”
The Record
- November 2017: School board approves contract including 23 layoffs of maintenance and clerical workers, effective July 1, 2018 — before Cognetti's appointment but setting the context for the board she joined.
- December 2017: Cognetti votes unanimously with the board to pass the 2018 budget — over citizen and union opposition — including layoffs of 89 specialty program teachers and a $3.5 million deficit. (WNEP, 12/28/17)
- December 2018: Cognetti resigns from the school board mid-term to accept a political appointment as special assistant to Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.
Learn more at www.RobForPA.com.
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