The Pennsylvania educational system’s abrupt reduction in income will require those responsible for budgeting to determine which items are nonessential to the proper fulfillment of the system’s primary goals and responsibilities.

The educational budget reductions proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett have placed school districts in a position whereby they must define and then substantially curtail or eliminate those things that are nonessential.

Teachers are finding themselves in a double bind. They are faced with salary freezes, increased benefit contributions and/or layoffs, while simultaneously being asked to continue a drive requesting continuation of a high level of state funding.

The Butler Eagle has published articles about school board meetings, including administrative reports and comments by board members and those individuals aspiring to become board members.

The comments of board and aspiring members, for the most part, do not address current and upcoming budget shortfalls. Those individuals are vague regarding the issues and how they would address them.

A call to a current or aspiring board member about his or her plan of action would undoubtedly provide a response so indirect and politically correct that even seasoned politicians would be envious.

It is inevitable that in the near future traditional and cherished nonessential school activities and programs will have to be greatly reduced and/or eliminated, in order to sustain the primary function and goal of the educational system.

A footnote is that the taxpayers (the “geese” that lay the golden eggs) seem poised to take matters into their own hands in the coming election or the one following.

The results will be interesting.