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Schools to get $6.7 million for art and music: The District is returning $6.7 million in school funds to help offset the cost of the art/music mandate. Every school will get between $18,000-$42,000 (approx.), depending on its size. Every school is required to have either a part time art or music teacher (at a minimum). Schools who already have either art or music will receive the funds to offset their purchase.

SRC holds more public budget hearings:

• The SRC will hold two additional public hearings on the budget: May 7^th (in the evening) and May 14^th.
• The public can also comment on the budget by emailing the SRC at budget09@phila.k12.pa.us

At the April 23rd budget hearing, more than 20 parents testified to the need for more open, honest dialogue with parents, schools and students, as well as the disconnect between luxuries at the District level ($20,000/day CEO advisory panel, $25,000 in foliage to spruce up the atrium, a $2.5 million SRC budget) and constant struggles at the school level. A number of parents from Nebinger and Southwark raised concerns about declining services for basic translation for immigrant communities even though immigrant populations are increasing. Greenfield parents raised concerns about teacher cuts in ESOL and special ed.

SRC commissioners emphasized that budgets were still in draft format with suggestions from the public welcome. The SRC will hold two additional budget hearings, one on May 7^th (likely to be in the evening), the other on May 14^th. The budget is scheduled for approval May 28^th.

TAKE ACTION! Testify!

City Council public hearings on the School District budget: Tues., April 29th, 1:30 -3 p.m., 5:30-7 p.m. Call Council at 215-686-3407.

School District public budget hearing, Wed., May 7th and Wed., May 14th. Call 215-400-4500 to testify.

Email the SRC: budget09@phila.k12.pa.us with the following points:

1. Return school discretionary funds: While we are grateful for the return of funds, most schools are still struggling to recoup losses. School discretionary funds are cut by around 5% for the third year in a row. Those funds pay for critical things like teachers and programs and aides no longer supplied by the District.
2. Relieve overcrowding: Class size relief may have been implemented for CA2 schools but not for the most overcrowded schools. More than 100 classes are beyond the class size maximum with no plans for reduction.
3. Clarify the District’s plans for cutting academic programs: School operations is the category most vulnerable to reductions in next year’s budget, with almost $60 million to be cut even with a best case scenario for full state funding. What are the top categories where the District plans to cut?
4. Transpasses eliminated for 7,000 kids? Currently the District plans to save $4.27 million by extending the qualifying distance for transpasses from 1.5 miles to 2 miles. Without subsidized tokens this is a punishing situation for children and families in the middle and high school years.
5. Reduce external contracts: There has been very little change in the amount of money going to alternative education providers, EMOs, and other external contractors. Poor contract management has made the news lately from CBOs to charters to the school providers failing to do what’s promised or improperly managing funds (in some cases). Rein in the contracting in the district. Cut the SRC’s $1.68 million contracts account.
6. Clarify plans for school closings: With declining enrollment, the District has stated its intent to consolidate and close schools. It paid a contractor CRE to complete a report. The report must be made public. Any schools targeted for closing or consolidation must be immediately identified.
7. Librarian mandate shelved: The unfunded mandate on school librarians/LIMAs was rescinded but shouldn't be forgotten. Many schools with libraries lack personnel to staff them. Many schools are waiting for their deserved libraries. Most of these are at the elementary level. We can't complain about 48% grade level reading rates for third graders, when we have cut opportunities for children to access books, libraries and literary enrichment. 

This information was provided by Parents United for Public Education, an all-volunteer collective of public school parents working to ensure accountability and achievement as the baselines of the School District's budget, as well as fighting for a full and just funding formula for schools.

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