APPS wants to know: Why does Commissioner Green keep leaving SRC meetings during speaker testimony?

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Click here to read the letter sent by APPS to Commissioner Bill Green about his leaving SRC meetings during speaker testimonies.

This article was published in the Philadelphia School Notebook
by Dale Mezzacappa – May 4, 2017

Activist group asks: Why did Bill Green leave SRC Meetings?

The Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools is asking why Bill Green left for large portions of the last two School Reform Commission meetings, suggesting that the behavior “calls into question” his ability to serve on that body and saying that he should consider resigning.

At both the April 27 and May 1 meetings, Green, who reportedly has back problems, left during the public speaking portion, then rejoined the meeting by telephone in time to vote on resolutions. Both meetings were marathon sessions lasting several hours.

Lisa Haver, APPS co-founder, said that Green’s absence clearly violates the SRC’s own policies and that APPS is not ruling out legal action to question the validity of the votes taken at the two meetings.

“Does the SRC make rules and say they don’t have to follow them?” Haver asked. “Those are their bylaws, that is their speakers’ policy. Mr. Green wasn’t there for the whole meeting, it’s spelled out what the requirement is.”

The policy in question is 006.1, which says that the someone joining by electronic communication “shall be considered present only if the Commissioner can hear everything said at the meeting and all those attending the meeting can hear everything said by that Commissioner. ”

The School District issued a statement saying that “all business transacted at both meetings was valid and in accordance with the applicable law.” Reached by telephone, Green took no questions and offered no explanation for his actions. The statement is “all that we’re going to say on the matter,” he said.

The statement, attributed to Miles Shore of the General Counsel’s office, said: “At the regular action meeting of the School Reform Commission on April 27, 2017 and at the special meeting on May 1, 2017, a quorum of Commissioners (a majority of appointed Commissioners) was present when the meetings were called to order.  All business transacted at both meetings was valid and in accordance with the applicable law.  The SRC did not not transact business or take any formal action at the regular meeting on April 27, 2017 or at the special meeting on May 1, 2017 in the absence of a quorum.”

But the relevant policy says that when a commissioner joins the meeting remotely, “a majority of Commissioners shall be physically present.” At the April 27 meeting, Commissioner Christopher McGinley was not present, leaving only two commissioners in the room, Farah Jimenez and chair Joyce Wilkerson.

The five-member body has only four members now because the state senate has yet to confirm Gov. Wolf’s nomination of Estelle Richman to fill the seat vacated by Feather Houstoun. Richman has been attending the meetings as an observer.

Haver said that in leaving without explanation, Green disrespected the people and the process. “Mr Green owes an explanation to the people why he didn’t listen to all the information on what he voted on,” she said.

At that meeting, the SRC voted on nearly 50 resolutions, including amendments to some charter agreements and a several contracts, including one allocating $149 million to operate alternative schools for the next five years.

At the May 1 meeting, the SRC voted to approve eight charter renewals, started the nonrenewal process for one charter, and delayed a voting on a second nonrenewal recommendation. It also voted on two charter amendments.

The April 27 meeting had 58 registered speakers, and the May 1 meeting had more than 30. At both meetings, Green left during the earlier part of the speaker segments and called back just before the vote on resolutions was about to start.

“At the April 27 meeting, you missed the testimony of 50 parents, students, district employees and community members, in addition to questions and comments by other commissioners,” the APPS’ letter states. “At the May 1 meeting, you missed two of the Charter Applicant Speaker Representatives and 23 or the 24 public speakers. You were not present to hear any part of the presentation by Charter School Office Executive Director DawnLynne Kacer and CSO Program Manager Regan Reamer on the 23 charter renewals and two charter amendments.

“Your apparently planned absences are disrespectful to the parents, students, employees and community members who took the time to research and write testimony…More importantly, your failure to be present for these meetings reflects a disregard for the responsibility that an SRC commissioner has to the stakeholders of the district.”

The letter, signed by Haver and APPS legislative liaison Lynda Rubin, says that Green’s actions warrant his leaving the commission. “We ask that you consider resigning your post,” the letter reads.

Haver, a retired District teacher, and her organization have tangled with the SRC before, winning legal concessions around Sunshine Act violations and over their right to carry protest signs into the meeting space.

“I think if the SRC makes rules, they have to follow them, and if they don’t follow them, there has to be some form of ramifications,” Haver said. “If Mr. Green has some reason why he can’t serve, he should resign.  But he owes everybody an explanation why he couldn’t be there for the whole meeting.”

The Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools Speaks at the Charter Renewal meeting of the SRC on May 1, 2017

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On May 1st, 2017 the Philadelphia School Reform Commission met for its Charter renewal meeting.

Details about the meeting can be found here:
SRC approves nontewal of Lab Charter, tables decision on Memphis Street | The Notebook – May 1, 2017

The meeting was dominated by supporters of various charter schools promoting their school and asking for renewal of their charters.

Members of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools spoke in opposition to charter renewals and called for full funding for public schools including an end to the four year impasse over a new contract for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

Click here to view all six videos.

Click on each picture to view individual videos or read transcripts of testimony. The pictures are posted in the speaker order at the meeting.

Note #1: During the charter school presentations, Commissioner Bill Green left the meeting and was not present for speakers. He voted on charter renewals by phone at the end of the meeting. A fifth seat remains empty because the Pennsylvania Senate has not approved the appointment of Governor Wolf’s nominee since last fall.

Note #2: Restrictions by SRC on camera placement continue to be a problem. Since we are required to be in a “press box” which is in the audience there is continual interference with the view with movement in the audience or people sitting between a speaker and the camera. While we were able to move up one row from the last meeting there is still a problem with being required to film speakers from the back and the SRC over the heads of audience members. The one exception is the video for Lisa Haver. We were able to film from the front of the audience because they had allowed the corporate media to film from that position earlier in the meeting.

The testimony of Lisa Haver before the School Reform Commission

Lisa Haver SRC 5-1-17
Click on the picture to view Lisa’s video.

The testimony of Deborah Grill before the School Reform Commission.

Debbie Grill SRC 5-1-17
Click on the picture to view Debbie’s video.

The testimony of Diane Payne before the School Reform Commission.

Diane Payne SRC testimony 5-1-17
Click the picture to view of video of Diane’s testimony.

Click here to read the transcript of Diane’s testimony.

The testimony of Lynda Rubin before the School Reform Commission.

Lynda Rubin SRC 5-1-17
Click on the picture to video of Lynda’s testimony.

The testimony of Ilene Poses before the School Reform Commission.

Ilene Poses SRC testimony 5-1-17

Click here to read the transcript of Ilene’s testimony.

The testimony of Barbara Dowdall before the School Reform Commission.

Barbara Dowdall SRC 5-1-17
Click the picture to view video of Barbara’s testimony.

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

Defenders of Public Education Speak at the April 27th SRC meeting

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On April 27th, 2017 the Philadelphia School Reform Commission met for its bimonthly Action Meeting..

This is testimony of parents, teachers and members of the  Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools in defense of public schools at the meeting

Click on each of the pictures below to view individual videos. Speakers are in order of appearance at the SRC meeting.

Click here to see all of the videos.

Note #1: After charter speakers and before the testimony of teachers and community members, Commissioner Bill Green left the meeting without explanation. He participated in the vote on Resolutions at the end of the meeting by phone.

Commissioner Christopher McKinley did not attend the meeting or participate by phone.

The photo above show the two SRC participants during the time teachers and community members spoke to the SRC.

Note #2: The problem with the camera angle and interruptions in the field of view are due to placement of the camera. The SRC has confined our camera to a “press box” which is located in the middle of the audience thus the quality of the video.

Testimony from community members with the Save Smith School Committee.

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Click the picture to view three videos from the Save Smith School speakers.

Testimony from six Philadelphia teachers at the April 27th SRC meeting.

Keziah Ridgeway
Click the picture to view six videos of Philadelphia teachers testifying about the lack of a contract after four years.

Testimony of APPS member Deborah Grill at the April 27th SRC meeting.

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Click the picture to view the video of Debbie’s testimony.

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

Testimony of APPS member Karel Kilimnik at the April 27th SRC meeting.

Karel Kilimnik SRC 4-27-17
Click the picture to view the video of Karel’s testimony.

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

Testimony of APPS member Cheri Micheau at the April 27th SRC meeting.

Cheri Micheau SRC 4-27-17
Click the picture to view the video of Cheri’s testimony at the SRC meeting.

Click here to read the transcript of Cheri’s testimony.

Testimony of APPS member Lisa Haver at the April 27th SRC meeting.

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Click on the picture to view Lisa’s testimony before the SRC.

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

Testimony of APPS member Diane Payne at the April 27th SRC meeting.

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Click on the picture to view Diane’s testimony before the SRC.

Testimony of APPS member Lynda Rubin at the April 27th SRC meeting.

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Click here to read the transcript of Lynda’s testimony at the April 27th SRC meeting.

The Resolutions vote by the School Reform Commission at the end of the SRC meeting.

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Click the picture to view the video of the SRC Resolutions vote.

Ears on the SRC: April 20, 2017

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by Diane Payne
April 29, 2017

The March 23 meeting of the School Reform Commission had been posted on the School District (SD) website for months as a regularly scheduled Action Meeting. For some reason, many of us who called the district to sign up to speak were told we had to speak on the topic of next year’s budget. APPS sent an email to the SRC requesting that they inform the district employees who take registration information that the district had never posted this as a budget meeting and that the public cannot be barred from speaking on general topics at any SRC Action Meeting.

Incredibly, the SRC made it even more confusing for those who tried to speak at the April 20 meeting. At first, callers were told they could only speak on the budget. Those who called on subsequent days were told they could speak on anything EXCEPT the budget, as they already had the limit for that one topic. The SRC was actually taking the position that they only wanted to hear from six members on the public about a $2.9 billion budget. Only the City itself, at $4 billion, has a larger budget than the school district. On the day before the meeting, some callers were told that they could not speak at all. Not until letters were sent by APPS, and action was taken by the office of Councilwoman Helen Gym, did the SRC allow all of those who called to speak. APPS’ Karel Kilimnik challenged the SRC to end the disinformation, confusion and lack of transparency.

All four commissioners—Chair Joyce Wilkerson, Commissioners Chris McGinley, Farah Jiminez, and Bill Green—were present. A confirmation hearing for Estelle Richman, nominated by Governor Wolf months ago, has yet to be scheduled. Harrisburg continues to inflict the SRC on Philadelphia but will not take the time to make sure all of its seats are filled.

Five members of APPS spoke at this SRC meeting. Click here to see their testimony and those of other community members who spoke on the budget, lack of transparency and the PFT contract..

CFO’s Budget Report
District Chief Financial Officer Uri Monson gave a 5-minute presentation on a $2.8 BILLION dollar budget—a single page of figures for the FY 18-22 financial plan. Where money is going and how money is spent is indiscernible from the single page of figures and from the presentation. Monson acknowledged the $65 windfall from the city’s reassessment of commercial properties, but recommended that the money be spent on early literacy initiatives and eliminating split grades. This would result in the hiring of an additional 112 teachers. The tenacious George Bezanis of the PFT’s Caucus of Working Educator’s shouted from the back “What about the PFT contract?” Superintendent Hite responded that getting teachers a contract was a “priority” and meetings were scheduled with the PFT. Haven’t we heard that—many times—before? After four years, they are only empty words.

After Monson’s presentation, commissioners questioned him for about 20 minutes on specifics. Munson explained that a portion of the unexpected money must go to charter schools as well. He stressed that the numbers in this budget were based on what is actually available right now as funding streams. If no new revenue becomes available, we can expect to again resort to cuts beginning in FY 19.

More Services Needed for ELL Students

Click here to read the rest of the article.