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Mayor: Teachers need a contract, SRC stays put

Mayor Kenney on Thursday spoke out about the lack of a Philadelphia teachers' contract, saying he has directed his deputy mayor for labor to intervene in stalled talks between the Philadelphia School District and its largest union.

Kenney, in a statement, said that he has asked Richard Lazer to "assist in whatever way the district will allow." The PFT has been without a contract for three years.

He also said that teachers have "sacrified a great deal" and noted that many teachers are leaving the district for other school systems and even professions.

"Talented educators have gone far too long without a fair contract or salary increases, and we risk losing many talented educators to other fields or school districts. This is simply not fair and it's not good for our kids," Kenney said.

The mayor issued the statement in advance of an SRC meeting beginning at 4:30 - the final meeting for Chair Marge Neff and Commissioner Feather Houstoun. Outside the meeting, protesters held signs calling for the end to the SRC.

But Kenney, in his statement, said that now is not the right time for the five-member body to go away. The mayor said he does "want local control for the school district, but the timing fo that to happen wihtin the next year is not practical." In order for the SRC to go away by next school year, the commission would have to vote to dissolve itself by mid-December. The mayor said it is "highly unlikely" that the votes would be in place by then.

Kenney said he did not believe dissolution "is in the best interest of our students, teachers and families at this time."

Follow below for a recap of livetweets from Thursday's SRC meeting: