The Pottstown borough is a tight-knit community known for being intimate. Pottstown Councilwoman Trenita Lindsay likes to refer to the town as a “little village where everyone is very welcoming.” As a local politician, she does not feel as though systemic racism has had much of an impact in our area.

There is a racial issue, however, that has proved detrimental to the political and educational wellbeing of Pottstown. Both Councilwoman Trenita Lindsay and Mayor Stephanie A. Henrick agreed that schools are severely underfunded.

“The only issue that I know of in Pottstown deals with the fair funding of public schools,” Lindsay said. 

Fair Funding of schools refers to a finance system that aims to provide equal opportunity for schools throughout districts in a state, as defined by the Education Law Center of Rutgers University. Student poverty is supposed to be accounted for, to ensure that income does not hinder their education. However, this is rarely the case. 

As in many other districts, Pottstown is negatively affected by Fair Funding. 

“Unfortunately, Pottstown is over $65 million dollars underfunded. And it’s just a cumulative effect. It takes away programs in schools, competent teachers … It takes away everything,” Mayor Henrick stressed. 

The issue was such a concern for Lindsay that it inspired her to get involved with politics. Despite this, she still speaks highly of local schools. 

“We are the only school district in this area where you can go from pre-k to college all in one place. And you can pick up a trade in different specialties. It makes me want to go back to high school!” Lindsay said. 

Lindsay thinks that there are many educational opportunities in Pottstown, but not enough. She uses her position to ensure that the state representatives are also fighting for educational equality. Fair Funding does not treat school districts fairly; there are other towns nearby that receive more money than Pottstown as a result of their racial and economic demographics. 

“When we go to Harrisburg and fight for fair funding, we see these kids expressing how they feel knowing that there is better out there for them,” Lindsay said. “Pottstown is being underfunded by over $3 million dollars a student. The children are affected by it.”

Pottstown has been underfunded for several years, but there is definitely hope for change in the education system. 

Henrick also identifies housing in Pottstown as an issue based in racism. Despite her affection for the diverse and tight-knit community, she recognizes that unfair housing has made life hard for people of color. 

She believes that “because of systemic racism, they have a harder time getting loans,” which leads to a “disportionate number of people of color being homeless and suffering from housing inequality.”  

When people of color are given a chance, Henrick reports that they are typically forced into the sections of town that are in bad shape. 

“We are trying to make sure that landlords are providing equal housing and providing adequate inspections,” Henrick said. 

In a few years from now, the politicians both hope that issues like these are resolved. But for now, they will continue rallying support for ending inequality in Pottstown.