Auditor General DePasquale Criticizes School District’s Decision to Consider Eliminating Classes While Offering Free Tuition to Hockey Players

March 28 2014

Auditor General DePasquale Criticizes School District’s Decision to Consider Eliminating Classes While Offering Free Tuition to Hockey Players

HARRISBURG (March 28, 2014) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today made the following statement about the Millcreek Township School District, Erie County, school board’s decision to consider eliminating Montessori classrooms while continuing an agreement to offer free tuition to ice hockey players:

“As education funding continues to be tight, I know that school board members across the state are facing some very tough decisions. Weighing the decision to eliminate classes or stop providing free tuition to out-of-district ice hockey players should be a no-brainer. School leaders should always put the best interests of students first to ensure that their educational needs are being met.

“I fail to see any value for students in advertising for a public school district whether it is in a local ice hockey rink or on the Goodyear blimp flying over the Super Bowl. Investing every available dollar in the classroom education of students in the district should always be the first factor in any school board decision.”

Earlier this month, the Millcreek Township Board of School Directors approved the continuation of an agreement with the Erie Otters ice hockey team to provide free tuition for out-of-district players in exchange for game tickets, advertisements and other benefits to the district.

The tuition agreement with hockey team was included as an observation in the most recent audit of the district released last summer. The next audit time frame is not yet set, but the audit will include a review of previous audit findings. A full copy of the Millcreek Township School District audit is online at:www.PaAuditor.gov/audit-reports.

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