Nine-Year-Old Speaks Out on Proposed School Cuts

Budget negotiations and deficit reduction are not usually topics that enter the radars of nine-year-old boys. However, when Brandon Donnelly overheard his parents talking about the drastic cuts to programs and extracurricular activities that were proposed by the Bensalem School Board to solve a $9 million deficit in the 2013-2014 budget, he felt compelled to speak up.

In the days leading up to the May 8 school board meeting, Brandon worked with his teachers to compose a speech that he planned to present to the board. His remarkable call to action is made even more impressive by the fact that Brandon is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Any parent with a child on the autism spectrum knows what a feat it is for the child to address a roomful of adults.

"We are just so proud of him," said Tarra Donnelly, Brandon's mother. "You can see the video shaking because I am in tears while he is talking."

Brandon is enrolled in Russell Struble Elementary's gifted program, and he fears that cuts will harm the very programs that helped get him to the point where he could comfortably make a public speech.

"Brandon doesn't show his emotions, but he knew he was out of his element," said Donnelly. "He said to me right before he spoke, 'Mom, I got to suck it up and do this. Then we can go home.'"

The three minute speech ended with a standing ovation from the entire room, including the board members. Donnelly says she still gets compliments on Brandon's eloquent plea. Regardless of how the final budget shakes out, Brandon's achievement already feels like a victory for his parents.

At the end of the May 8 meeting, the school board was presented with a balanced budget proposal that included $2.8 millions in expense cuts achieved by ending the sixth grade gifted program at Belmont Elementary, closing Bensalem High School's swimming pool, reducing support staff, including secretarial staff, health room assistant and librarians at the high school and middle schools. Approximately $3 million will come from the designated fund balance, and another $2 million will come from a proposed tax increase of 4 mills, or 2.77 percent (equal to an average hike of $84 per homeowner).

The Bensalem school board is reviewing the latest proposal and will vote on it at the May 22 meeting. The district has until the end of June to present a final budget to the state.