The Pennsylvania Department of Education has violated state law by shuttering Philadelphia's Safe School Advocate's office, lawmakers and city officials said at a news conference today.
State Reps. John Taylor (R, Phila.) and Bill Keller (D, Phila.) also sent a letter to Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak today saying they were "troubled that you would use the current budget crisis as justification to close a legally mandated office with a yearly budget allocation of $387,000."
"We would remind you that the close of the Safe Schools Advocate office is in clear violation of the law," they wrote. "We would request that you act expeditiously to correct this situation before the start of the new school year."
Taylor, Keller, Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz and Harvey Rice, a deputy controller and former Safe Schools Advocate, all decried the closure.
The most recent safe schools advocate, Jack Stollsteimer, was unceremoniously booted from his office at the Philadelphia School District's Center City headquarters on Friday. He and two other office employees were permanently furloughed.
Stollsteimer drew state ire with reports that criticized Philadelphia schools as violent and with a deeply troubled disciplinary system. Last year, the state refused to release his annual report, saying it was inaccurate and misleading.
The state then released its own report, which reached virtually the same conclusions.
Stollstimer said the state never supported his office's mission, but said that the district under current Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has improved on safety. Ackerman has hinted that Stollsteimer may join the district in some capacity.
Stollsteimer that even if funding is found to restore the office he might not take his old job back.
"To be honest with you, it would be a stretch for me to want to work for this administration," Stollsteimer said of the Rendell administration. Gov. Rendell appointed him to the job in 2006.
The legislators said they had not yet decided whether a lawsuit was in order. They will work first to get funding for the office back in the budget, they said.
"This is a law," Keller said. "It is not a suggestion."
Contact staff writer Kristen Graham at 215-854-5146 or kgraham@phillynews.com.
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