Philadelphia Schools in Crisis

PHILADELPHIA — Surviving with a $304 million deficit, teachers, staff and education activists of the School District of Philadelphia are calling the funding shortage of area schools a crisis.

In a letter addressed to Education Secretary Arne Duncan from Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and education activist Diane Ravitch, Duncan is pressured to intervene.

“We are writing to ask for your urgent intervention to preserve public education for the children of Philadelphia,” the letter said. “Due to draconian budget cuts, the public schools of Philadelphia are being starved to the point where they can no longer function for the city’s children. Philadelphia is in a state of crisis. We believe your direct and public intervention is required to ensure the existence of educational opportunity in that city.”

The city is facing a massive layoff of about 3,800 school district employees due to the School Reform Commission’s (SRC) approval of a $2.4 billion spending plan that included massive cuts to staff as well as art, music and athletics among other programs.

Pennsylvania lawmakers recently developed a new plan that would generate about $140 million for the district, but local education leaders say the district needs at least $180 million to deter the “doomsday” budget and rehire teachers. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is also attempting to secure an additional $60 million via a $2 per pack tax on cigarette sales.

William Hite, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, said the budget was based solely upon the revenues known to be available, though he is hopeful that a resolution can be found that will best benefit Philadelphia students.

“To be fiscally responsible, the School District of Philadelphia must live within its means. But this is not the budget that anyone wants,” Hite said in a statement released Sunday. “The budget that is scheduled for adoption tonight in no way fits my idea of public education, high-caliber opportunities or even quality schools and programs. It falls catastrophically short of meeting students’ needs.”

School Reform Commission Chairman Pedro Ramos also released a statement stating that funding for the district is “clearly inadequate.”

“We will continue to advocate for additional funding and savings and hope to amend this budget before the start of the new school year. Philadelphia students deserve a safe, high quality education that will prepare them for college and career,” Ramos said. “The new SRC has not shied away from tough decisions and reducing costs, but we cannot fulfill our duty to children if funding is so dramatically inadequate.”