Council hearing, round 2: public weighs in
A City Council hearing on the Philadelphia School District's budget continues today. Round Two is public comment, scheduled for this afternoon. Troy Graham will guest Tweet the proceeding beginning at 1 p.m.; you can follow here.
Council hearing, round 2: public weighs in
Kristen Graham
UPDATED: 1 P.M. A City Council hearing on the Philadelphia School District's budget continues today. Round Two is public comment, beginning at 1 p.m. in City Council chambers.
If you're planning on attending, bring a snack. More than 70 speakers had signed up to testify as of late Tuesday afternoon. I know that several parent organizing groups had encouraged folks to speak out on what cuts would mean for their families - cuts to transportation, full-day kindergarten, alternative education programs, ESL services, you name it.
As you can read here, Council spent a marathon session Tuesday listening to Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman and other top district officials explain how the district came to have a $629 million budget gap for the 2011-12 budget year and what they would do about it if no more money came forward. Then, after a lot of back and forth, confusion and drama, came the "ask" - the district would like the city to chip in between $75 and $110 million more than it's already commited to giving.
If some or all of that money comes through, restored will be full-day kindergarten and transportation services. Also identified as priorities are keeping class sizes low and restoring cuts to alternative education. Council would like assurances that if it does give additional money, the district would promise to use it in a targeted way, and not just dump it into the general fund.
A $75 to $110 million funding hike would almost certainly necessitate a tax increase. No one is willing to go there yet, but there was a lot of talk about tough decisions and hard choices. We shall see. The district will adopt some kind of budget next Tuesday, May 31, but Chief Financial Officer Michael Masch said it's going to be a provisional budget, and will be amended once final decisions are made in Harrisburg and City Hall. The city will blow its budget deadline, which is also May 31, but can't go into July without a budget.
I am otherwise occupied and will not actually be covering the hearing today, but you're in excellent hands with ace education reporter Martha Woodall, who's writing for print, and crack reporter Miriam Hill, who is filling in for me, not Troy Graham as originally expected. I know I will be checking back for news. So should you!
On a mobile phone? Click here to follow along.
Who from the School District will be in attendance? Will Queen Arlene be there to listen to the citizenry? I doubt it, the heat will be too great. Council will also try to keep the public commemts short "to allow more citizens to speak". Yeah, right!— jcc1960- When is sommeone going to stick up for the peole who pay the taxes in this city? Many of us don't have any kids in PUblic School and never did. Why should we pay fot the welfare crowd and their never ending demands while they lay on thei a**es and create another Ba**ard for the public to support? why isn't a small amount per child being withheld from the welfare check to accommodate their kids in public education---the gravy train is going to sail soon because, like me, many elderly, retired, and on pension and social security, seniors are tired of supporting ill -mannered , foulmouthed and arrogant brats with their equally ill mannered, foul mouthed and arrogant parents.— crystalrainbowspirit1
Comment removed.- What does Arlene Ackerman need to do to be fired? Does she have to turn white?— Jay from Philly
- What does Arlene Ackerman need to do to be fired? Does she have to turn white?— Jay from Philly
- @ Clean up Philly. You spew the same information over and over again. Yes, I can do the math, but NO all the money in the budget does not all go to the students. Have you ever heard of an operation's budget? I guess everyone thinks that because the SDP is a public facility they don't have to pay bills. Well guess what! PECO, PGW, PWD, Verizon all want their money too. Can you even imagine your kids going to school, going in the bathroom and finding no toilet paper or soap? Or how about no water or heat in the dead of winter. Better yet-why not just not pay the electric bill, so that means no lights, computers, heat, air, fans..... I guess we need to teach by candlelight on the dark rainy days.
It really angers me to read that people don't understand when you say cut this and cut that-you are talking about real people who are about to lose their jobs. But, I will be standing in the unemployment line soon and collecting an unemployment check. (By the way I have 9 years as a teacher). One way or another tax payers will be paying for the cuts in funding.— babyboy - Ha, "toilet paper," "soap"? Babyboy, we get your drift, but these two items are relics. After opening day, most schools no longer replace these personal care items in what has been the most highly vandalized area in the building, the lavatory.— lefty
- LEfty..you are a moron. I do not know where you get your info..probably made up. Attendance is much better than you think for the vast majority of the district..Soap etc is available all year..as is copy paper and other supplies. Do you have any idea what text books cost these days? Probably not. Why not speak from facts not your own little made up racist reality. Yes I am causasian and yes I woek in a school in KEnsington. I speak from facts not fiction.. Believe me there is plenty wrong and we all know the fish stinks from the head first..you are clueless and headless— bull****meter
- Don't worry the money will be generated by raising the taxes for those who actually pay taxes and when they have to cut services and lay off cops and firefighters so that they have to take their kids out of Catholic schools and get the attendance higher in public school.— jn3
- Enrollment is down because of charter schools, why can't the school district combine some schools and maybe save some money and run more efficiently?— Stop the Insanity
- If they do that, how would they be able to turn over brand new school buildings to friends who will make a huge profit? — jn3
- bullmeter I work in the schools and there is No copypaper for teachers, no soap, or toilet paper for kids!!! Fact!— philly254
- This is BS, my taxes aren't going down bc of "gambling" which was a promise of Rendell--remember. Other districts get a credit on their tax bills--we don't! in fact real estate taxes went up! So, no, I don't want any more of my tax dollars going to this district.
while I believe in paying my fair share, no new taxes--we already pay too much (compared to other city's). Charge fees for the extras...provide students a basic education. Also, if full day K is so great, how come our scores still stink! Not a lot of longitudinal data showing it pays off. Other than day care, how is it helping the students graduate and earn money? if parents want their child to stay (after the 1/2 day program), then pay for it yourself. Why should I subsidize your day care. I already subsidize too much in this city for non-workers.— Notmyname - "Bull***Meter, have you thought of changing your board moniker to "BULL***S__T?"— lefty
- Let's take a sec to cordially welcome our newest member, BULL***Sh__ to the boards. Have Jerry Jordan and his minions decided to mount an attack on those of us who DO KNOW what's going on in our schools? Maybe BULL***SH__is new to the public schools, or maybe BULL***SH__ is just that, full of it!— lefty
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.
