Street, who spoke to the commission by phone, pledged to help find more city money for schools.

Parents and student groups had threatened on Wednesday to take legal action against the commission, alleging the commissioners violated the state's Sunshine Act by deliberating on the budget in private.

Commissioners yesterday denied any violation of the law, which requires government bodies to conduct most business in public, apart from a few specific exceptions, including personnel decisions.

Parents said they were still mulling legal action.

Helen Gym of Parents United for Public Education said the Street proposals adopted by the commission provided opportunities to continue to analyze and tweak the budget through June.

Gym, a Powel School parent, said that by the June 30 deadline in the proposals, the district will know the amount of additional funds coming from the city and the state.

She also said that the district's promises to open the budget process would make it more transparent.

The meeting was filled with impassioned pleas and concerns.

David Lewis, 38, a University City High graduate, offered to help raise money for schools so that students would fare better than he had. He read about the district's budget woes in a newspaper and said he felt he had to attend the meeting.

"My life was messed up early," he said, his voice cracking with emotion as a minister in the audience approached and put his hand on Lewis' shoulder in support.

"I went to jail when I was 21. I came out when I was 29. . . . I'm back working two jobs again, trying to get my life on track.

"If I had a chance to do it again, I would have paid more attention in school and got an education right. . . . It's just hard without education."

He said the district should not cut music over sports or any particular program, because it might be the thing that prevents a student from dropping out.

"You're neglecting certain students when you're making your cuts," he warned.

Kevin Peter, a parent whose child attends Henry Elementary in Mount Airy, said larger class sizes, safety concerns and loss of music teachers, among other specialities, were driving parents out of the city in search of better schools.

"To the extent the budget decisions continue these negative trends, we'll see more families take their resources and participation elsewhere," said Peter, who belongs to a group of Henry School supporters.

The district still must identify $18 million more in cuts to keep the budget balanced. It restored 100 teaching positions and several programs that the administration had proposed cutting. The moves are sure to anger citizens.

"We're trying to do as little harm as possible," Nevels said.

Budget Highlights