The Panther Valley School District continues to hope that the governor and state legislators will come through with additional funding it needs in this year’s state budget.

The district, which has an annual budget of $34 million, is underfunded by $17 million a year, according to a report narrowly approved by the Basic Education Commission earlier this year.

Last month, local directors called out state legislators for not wanting to give additional money to underfunded districts, such as Panther Valley.

Director Michael Alabovitz singled out state Sen. David Argall, who sits on the Basic Education Commission, as not wanting to give the district the funds it needs to upgrade its facilities and help its students. He has since met with the senator.

“I made a promise to Sen. Argall that I’d say something at this meeting,” Alabovitz said during the Wednesday’s school board meeting.

Alabovitz along with some board members met with Argall at the school complex to discuss the comments made, he said.

“I’m not retracting those comments,” he said. “I still feel that the legislature needs to do their job and do what’s right by getting us the funds we need.

“But Sen. Argall did say that they are working toward a resolution and trying to get something done,” Alabovitz said.

“They know something needs to be done. I’m just hopeful that long term, they’ll do the right the thing and come to an agreement,” he said.

The additional funding is necessary for all of the schools in Pennsylvania, and not just Panther Valley, Alabovitz said.

“There is an honest disagreement between the governor, the legislature and the Senate as to how much money should be spent on school funding,” he said. “Not much more came out of that meeting.”

A year ago, Commonwealth Court ruled the state’s school funding formula was unconstitutional. Panther Valley and other poor districts have received some additional funds to help bring them up to a level with richer district, but school Superintendent Dave McAndrew has said it’s not enough.

Panther Valley needs to replace its aging elementary school in the coming years to keep pace with growing enrollment but officials said they can’t move forward with any building plans without additional funds from the state.

The district’s directors said they will not burden local taxpayers with the cost of a new school.