Schools budget disappoints many

Philadelphia parents and politicians yesterday bemoaned a "grim" schools budget that, they said, offers little hope for comprehensive change without huge increases in funding.

In the second day of annual budget hearings before City Council, members recognized gains the district had made in test scores, but Councilman Bill Green wondered why there was no "moral outrage" that the city schools are underfunded by $870 million, according to a "costing-out" study commissioned by the legislature.

Interim schools chief executive officer Tom Brady agreed with Green - that the schools were not equipped to meet the district's core mission without the $5,000-per-student annual increase that the study said was necessary to bring the school district up to state standards.

With that additional money, "our school district would be transformed," said Brady, who is leaving in June to run the Providence, R.I., district and will be replaced by Arlene Ackerman.

Brady presented a $2.3 billion budget, which is 5 percent higher than the current one. It includes a $38.9 million deficit, but school officials told Council on Monday that their final budget would include a plan to erase the deficit.

Without the increased funding, Green said, "the district does not have the resources to fulfill its core mission." Brady agreed.

That mission, according to the district: "to provide a high-quality education that prepares, ensures, and empowers all students to achieve their full intellectual and social potential in order to become lifelong learners and productive members of society."

In public testimony that drew only 13 speakers, parents and others focused on class size. They said they were unmoved by the district's targeting of the 35 lowest-performing elementary schools for smaller classes.

"We are pleased that some schools will get smaller class size," said Sheila Simmons, education director for Public Citizens for Children and Youth, the children's advocacy organization. "But we need it for all of our schools."

Helen Gym, a founder of Parents United for Public Education, said the district's $15.4 million initiative to lower class sizes and restore arts, music and library programs fell far short of what was needed.

"For us, at least, as a parent and a mother, this is a really grim budget," Gym said. "If there's a five-year plan where school closings are essential to cost savings, that's a grim budget. And if there's a budget where . . . across-the-board pay freezes balance deficits, then it's a grim budget."

Yesterday was a chance for the public to vent, after Council grilled school officials Monday and part of yesterday morning.

And they agreed with City Council and Brady that progress in the district requires more funding.

The district is counting on Gov. Rendell's proposed state budget to provide an extra $86 million in the 2008-09 school year.

In the fall, a legislature-funded report showed that almost every school district in the state was underfunded.

The study, which aims to equalize funding among districts, called for a $4.4 billion funding boost, including $870 million more for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, which spends just under $10,000 annually per pupil, would have to spend nearly $15,000 to provide an adequate education to all students, according to that report.

Rendell's budget proposes increases of $291 million next year, including the city's $86 million increase. His budget must still make it through the legislature.

While most called on Council and other politicians to push for more funding, community activist Vernard Johnson noted the lack of public speakers for the critical school district budget.

"Six years ago, this time, this place was full of people," Johnson said, referring to Council hearings after the state takeover of the city's schools. "People had a real feel for public education six years ago, and six years later, I guess we'll all go home on time. . . . There's something going on in public education in this town that has killed the spirit of a lot of people."

The final school budget is due May 28.