Category: Posts (Newest to Oldest)

A chronological listing of APPS post descending from the newest to the oldest.

Ears on the SRC: May 17, 2018

SRC 5-17-18

by Diane Payne
June 1, 2018

 SRC Limping to June 30th

Both the elected and appointed officials who control the SRC seem to hold the people of Philadelphia in very low regard.  Mayor Kenney removed two of the previous Commissioners, Chris McGinley and Joyce Wilkerson, so that they would be able to serve on his newly-appointed school board. Their seats were filled by two placeholders, former SRC Chair Marge Neff and former district staff member Fran Burns. In addition, the SRC has been conducting business with only four seats filled because of Governor Wolf’s decision not to replace Farah Jimenez after she unexpectedly resigned in February. Bill Green showed his disrespect for district stakeholders by skipping yet another meeting (we’ve lost count of all the meetings he has been absent or late for in the last year).  The charter schools Green supports can fire staff without explanation or due process, and Green can be absent without explanation or regard for the community. We did wonder whether the SRC withdrew two resolutions concerning charters just prior to the meeting, without explanation, because of Green’s absence. Present at this meeting were: Chairwoman Estelle Richman and Commissioners Fran Burns and Marge Neff.

Five members of APPS testified in support of public education at this meeting.  In addition, four members of the public testified on behalf of public education.

 SRC Spending Priorities Remain Unclear

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Defenders of public education speak before the May 24th Philadelphia School Reform Commission

by Ken Derstine
May 26, 2018

SRC Tanya #2
Click on the picture above to view defenders of public education speaking at the May 24th SRC meeting.

Video by Deborah Grill

Transcripts of some of the speakers before the Philadelphia School Reform Commission.
Speakers are in order of appearance before the SRC.

Tanya Parker SRC 5-24-18
Click on Tanya Parker’s picture to read the transcript of her testimony.
Linda Cliatt-Wayman SRC 5-24-18
Click on Linda Cliatt-Wayman’s picture to read the transcript of her testimony.
Tany Bah
Click the picture to read the transcript of Tanya Bah’s testimony.
SRC 5-24-18 Shirley Hooks
Click the picture to read the transcript of Shirley Hooks testimony.
Karel Kilimnik
Click on Karel Kilimnik’s picture to read the transcript of her testimony.
Lisa Haver
Click on Lisa Haver’s picture to read the transcript of her testimony,
Lynda Rubin
Click on the picture to read the transcript of Lynda Rubin’s testimony before the SRC.

 

 

Defenders of public education speak before the Philadelphia City Council May 16, 2018

City Council May 16, 2018

Click the picture above to view video of testimony of defenders of public education before Philadelphia City Council on May 16, 2018.

Transcripts of the members of APPS who testified at the hearing
Transcripts are in the order of the testimony.

Karel Kilimnik City Council 5-16-18

Click the picture to read the transcript of Karel’s testimony.

Lisa Haver City Council 5-16-18

Click the picture to read the transcript of Lisa’s testimony.

Lynda Rubin City Council testimony 5-16-18

Click the picture to read the transcript of Lynda’s testimony.

 

Deborah Grill

Click the picture to read the transcript of Debbie’s testimony.

Barbara Dowdall City Council 5-16-18

Click the picture to read the transcript of Barbara’s testimony.

 

Eyes on the SRC: May 24, 2018

SRC 5-17-18

by Lisa Haver
May 21, 2018

Will This Budget Provide Essential Services for All Students?

The resolution list for this second May meeting is a relatively short one. The first two resolutions, without text at this point, propose the final operating and capital budgets for the 2018-19 fiscal year. [See the full resolution list below*.  Find the complete resolution summary here.]

Why the Disruption for Kindergarten Students and Families?

Resolution SRC-4 finalizes the academic calendar for 2018-19; first day for staff is August 20, first day for students is August 27.  As Dr. Hite noted at the May 17 meeting, this will be the first year that Kindergarten students begin on the same day as students in all other grades. He did not give a reason for the change, but teachers know that this will make the beginning of school a more chaotic time for schools and a more frightening time for the 5-year old Kindergarten students. Teachers have been told by administrators that they can meet with parents instead of going to the mandated Professional Development sessions their colleagues will be attending during the week before students arrive. In the past, some Kindergarten teachers would contact the families of new students over the summer (or in the first few days of school) and make appointments to meet them during the first week of school.  This gave the teacher an opportunity to give informal assessments, give the parents a chance to ask questions about them and the school, to have the children see the classroom and meet the teacher one-on-one. There was support staff in the building to answer questions about other services that may be necessary for the child. Dr. Hite laid off classroom assistants in 2013, so most Kindergarten classrooms are without them now. A recent Philadelphia Inquirer story highlighted the district’s 9th grade academies, which the district says helps to build a foundation for high school students.  Why is the district eroding this crucial foundation for Kindergartners?

More Second Chances for Charters

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