HARRISBURG, PA. (ErieNewsNow) - This week, testimony in the Pennsylvania public education funding lawsuit highlighted serious issues facing schools around the Commonwealth. 

Witnesses painted a grim picture of what a normal school day looks like for many students throughout Pennsylvania, and how the COVID-19 Pandemic made things worse. 

Especially issues dealing with infrastructure like classroom space and capacity, ventilation systems, and more. 

“We also heard a lot about facility issues in underfunded schools. Storage closets and locker rooms are being used as classrooms,” Deborah Gordon Klehr the Executive Director of the Education Law Center. 

“We heard about a section of a school where 125 young children have to share one toilet,” she added. 

“Their facility-challenges predated COVID, but certainly have been exacerbated,” said Gordon Klehr. 

Local superintendents agree public school funding is inequitable throughout the Commonwealth. 

“It's had a major impact on the district,” said Brian Polito, Superintendent for Erie Public Schools. 

Polito says that non-English speaking students and students living in poverty are just a few populations that require more resources from the district.

Maintaining infrastructure and keeping schools warm during the winter also requires more funding.

“We have challenges that many other school districts don't have, and yet we were spending less than 93% of school districts across the state,” said Polito. 

Polito says a lack of equitable funding puts students at a disadvantage. 

“We need to level the playing field for all our students and make sure that they all have an opportunity to succeed,” said Polito. “Your education shouldn't be based on your zip code. You should be able to offer the same type of programing to all students in Pennsylvania.” 

Polito is hoping for a positive outcome in the fair funding trial and says it’s needed for Pennsylvania’s future. 

“Long term, we really need that adjustment from the state in order to be competitive with other school districts around the area,” he said. “This really should be a number one priority, we can't let generations of kids fall behind.”