Archive: February, 2012
Kristen Graham
Despite the fact that it’s nearly broke and in the middle of a major organizational shakeup, the Philadelphia School District is moving forward with plans to turn failing schools over to charter organizations.
Four low-performing Philadelphia schools have been targeted — Cleveland, Creighton, and H.R. Edmunds Elementary Schools, and Jones Middle School.
They will all become charters in September, the district said in a news release Wednesday.
Kristen Graham
UPDATE, 7:30 p.m.
A fourth grade class from Francis Scott Key Elementary in South Philadelphia has weighed in on the state's ruling. And they're not happy.
When her students came to her with concerns about the new policy, teacher Jasselle Cruz encouraged them to do something constructive - write persuasive letters.
Kristen Graham and Martha Woodall
NOTE: For the latest live tweets on the announcements, scroll down to the "Live Chat" box below.
5 p.m.
Staff writer Michael Matza reports from inside Bonner-Prendergast:
Kristen Graham
An actor-turned-teacher, two union officials and a state senator gathered on the steps of the Philadelphia School District’s headquarters Thursday to send a message — the budget cuts have got to stop.
Tony Danza, who spent a year as an English teacher at Northeast High for a reality show, has said the budget cuts have really affected the school — both in terms of capacity and morale.
“At Northeast, we lost shop teachers, art teachers,” Danza said at a news conference. “That sends a message to the kids that they really don’t matter.”
Kristen Graham
The William Penn Foundation is donating $1.5 million to help restructure the Philadelphia School District, officials announced today.
Kristen A. Graham
Inquirer schools reporter Kristen Graham takes your questions and comments on the Philadelphia school system. The chat starts at noon. On a mobile device? Click here to join the chat.
Kristen Graham
Lost in the shuffle of a six-hour Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting Thursday night: resolution A-13, a $1.4 million, one-month contract with to Boston Consulting Group, Inc.
That’s right — $1.4 million. And the Philadelphia School District still has a June deadline for trimming $38.8 million more from a budget that’s already lost thousands of employees and withstood deep cuts to individual schools’ funds.
But SRC Chairman Pedro Ramos said he did not expect the money to come from district coffers. The SRC has had conversations with philanthropists and nonprofits and the full funding should come from them, Ramos said.
Kristen A. Graham
Facing a $38.8 million budget shortfall, with a deadline to make a decision on closing schools looming, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meets at 5:30 p.m.
On a mobile phone? Click here to follow along.
Kristen Graham
More news from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia:
The effort to save Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast High School just got a serious shot in the arm - officials reached their goal of raising $5 million to save the school. It is one of four high schools the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has ordered to close in June, but officials are appealing the decision.
The archdiocese will rule on all school closing appeals on Friday.
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.
