Last year, when the Panther Valley School District needed help paving its parking lot, most of the towns making up the district came to its rescue by providing expertise and manpower. A lot of taxpayer money was saved with the joint effort.

The boroughs are again rallying for the district on another front. This time, all four boroughs - Summit Hill, Lansford, Coaldale and Summit Hill - are united in the effort.

It’s a demand to state lawmakers that the funding formula for public schools be more equitable, which is enjoining the school district in a lawsuit against the state over funding.

Summit Hill council member David Wargo said Panther Valley is underfunded by $10.5 million.

Wargo personally visited all four municipalities and succeeded in persuading them to pass resolutions “to demand equity for our taxpayers” and repair funding shortages.

Now, Wargo is going to take his efforts even further. He will visit other communities in Carbon County and encourage them to pass the same resolution the Panther Valley communities adopted.

He said the state financing shortfalls affect other local districts besides Panther Valley.

One other avenue of protest by Wargo and Summit Hill Borough Council is to submit an article to the Times News detailing the council’s opposition to the state funding formula.

Wargo told the borough council each resolution has a letter attached and will be forwarded to state lawmakers.

Summit Hill Councilman Michael Alabovitz last month also encouraged residents to write to their legislators to demand changes to school funding ratios.