Gov. Shapiro Signs New Budgets In Lower Bucks School District

MORRISVILLE, PA —Gov. Josh Shapiro showed up Tuesday for the first day of the new year in the Morrisville School District to sign the new budgets for school districts across the Commonwealth.

"The Morrisville School District had a fantastic first day of school," Mayor Gary Wallace said.

The Morrisville Middle/Sr. High School hosted Shapiro, who signed the new budgets that give a major boost in K-12 public education funding, with an unprecedented $1.1 billion increase in the 2024-25 budget.

"Gov. Shapiro's investments are set to transform our schools, enhancing resources for students, supporting teachers, and improving facilities," Wallace said.

The mayor said the school district will see "a substantial increase" of over $200,000 this school year, bringing much-needed support to schools and students.

"I was proud to sign a bipartisan budget this summer that commits a historic $11 billion to K-12 public education in Pennsylvania – including $1.1 billion more than last year, the largest increase in Commonwealth history. Investing in our children's future is a top priority, and under my Administration, we’re delivering for them," Shapiro said in a press release. “This budget builds on our progress by boosting investments in student-teacher stipends, mental health resources, and essential school repairs while also improving how we allocate funding, with a new formula that directs dollars to the schools that need them most.”

The school district will receive about $5.7 million for the 2024-25 school year.

The district serves more than 830 students across three schools: Grandview Elementary School, Morrisville Intermediate School, and Morrisville Middle/Senior High School.

Shapiro was joined for the ceremonial bill signing Tuesday by Schools Superintendent Andrew Doster, Morrisville Middle/Senior High School teacher Elizabeth Glaum-Lathbury, and student Laila Waters, as well as local and state legislators.

“The passage of the 2024-25 budget means additional dollars for staff, books, and safety and security measures for students; increases in basic education funding; investments in student mental health and free breakfast for our students; and increases in special education funding, cyber charter reimbursement, student health, and early childhood learning,” Doster said. “Our district is very grateful for these dollars, and it is my honor to say thank you to our governor and our elected officials for all their efforts and for making education funding a priority. It is our wish that these efforts and increases in funding continue to further advance the ability of PA public schools – and specifically here at Morrisville – to create dynamic environments that meet the needs and challenge all of our learners and our school.”

“As a teacher, it's important to me to give our students experiences that maybe they wouldn't have access to outside of our building. The increased funding in the 2024-25 budget will certainly be put to good use by all of our teachers, and of course, all teachers across the Commonwealth. I’m grateful for this historic support for students by our Governor and the General Assembly,” said Glaum-Lathbury.

“It is an honor to introduce Governor Josh Shapiro, who has worked with our General Assembly to make sure students across the Commonwealth, such as me, and all students have access to great public education and opportunities to get us started for where we want to go with our careers and our futures,” said Waters, a Morrisville High School senior.