APPS members testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission – April 28, 2016

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On April 28, 2016 the Philadelphia School Reform Commission’s monthly meeting was held for a vote on turning three public schools over to charter companies and renewals for nine existing charters.

This is testimony of members of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools at this meeting.

All eight videos can be viewed here.

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

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Video of APPS member Lynda Rubin testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016.

The transcript of Lynda’s testimony.

Diane Payne pic SRC 4-28-16

Video of APPS member Diane Payne testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016.

The transcript of Diane’s testimony.

Lisa Haver pic SRC 4-28-16

Video of APPS member Lisa Haver testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016.

The transcript of Lisa’s testimony.

Debbie Grill SRC 4-28-16

Video of APPS member Deborah Grill testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016.

The transcript of Debbie’s testimony.

Ilene Poses pic SRC 4-28-16

Video of APPS member Ilene Poses testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016.

The transcript of Ilene’s testimony.

Karel Kilimnick pic SRC 4-28-16

Video of APPS member Karel Kilimnik testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016

The transcript of Karel’s testimony.

Barbara Dowdall pic 4-28-16

Video of APPS member Barbara Dowdall testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016.

The transcript of Barbara’s testimony.

Robin Lowry pic SRC 4-28-16

Video of APPS member Robin Lowry testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission hearing – April 28, 2016.

The transcript of Robin’s testimony.

 

APPS members testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Budget Hearing – April 21, 2016

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On April 21, 2016 the Philadelphia School Reform Commission held hearings on the proposed FY17 budget.

This is testimony of members of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools at this meeting.

All six videos can be viewed here.

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

Karel Kilimnic SRC 4-21-16

Video of APPS member Karel Kilimnik testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Budget hearing – April 21, 2016.

The transcript of Karel’s testimony.

Diane Payne SRC testimony pic 4-21-16

Video of APPS member Diane Payne testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Budget hearing – April 21. 2016.

The transcript of Diane’s testimony.

Barbara Dowdall SRC testimony April 21, 2016.

Video of APPS member Barbara Dowdall testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Budget hearing – April 21, 2016.

The transcript of Barbara’s testimony.

Lisa Haver SRC testimony pic 4-21-16

Video of APPS member Lisa Haver testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Budget hearing – April 21, 2016.

The transcript of Lisa’s testimony.

Carol Heinsdorg SRC testimony pic 4-21-16

Video of APPS member Carol Heinsdorf testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Budget hearing – April 21, 2016.

The transcript of Carol’s testimony.

Robin Lowry SRC testimony pic 4-21-16

Video of APPS member Robin Lowry testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission Budget hearing – April 21, 2016.

The transcript of Robin’s testimony.

Eyes on the SRC: April 28, 2016

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Welcome to the 9th edition of Eyes on the SRC

By Karel Kilimnik

Please note that the April 28th Action meeting starts at 4 PM instead of the usual 5:30 due to the large number of speakers the SRC expects to register. 

Also: There are two SRC Action meetings scheduled next month – Thursday May 19th at 5:30 and Thursday May 26th at 4:30. To register to speak call 215 400 4180 before 4:30 the day before each meeting.   

We need our Eyes on the SRC more than ever as it continues to change speaker policies and to add resolutions at the last minute.

The April 28th Action meeting includes the issue of the possible renewal of eleven charters, including two run by Aspira. You may remember Daniel Denvir’s 2013 City Paper article in which he reported that Aspira Inc. of Pennsylvania owed large sums of money to four of its Philadelphia charter schools, according to an independent audit of the organization’s finances as of June 30, 2012.

The Charter Office, under the supervision of the SRC, has recommended Universal Audienried and Universal Vare as well as Aspira’s Olney and Stetson schools for non-renewal. We expect a large contingent of both Aspira and Universal supporters to attend the meeting.

You might also wonder at the scheduling of votes for a record number of charter renewals at the same meeting the SRC will vote on the Resolutions placing three more schools into the Renaissance Charter program, especially as controversy continues to swirl around these decisions.

Click here to read selected SRC resolutions and APPS comments about each.

 

APPS calls on SRC Commissioner Green to drop his lawsuit to be reinstated as SRC Chair

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Members of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools call on SRC Commissioner William Green to drop his lawsuit against Governor Wolf to reappoint him as SRC Chair and  to join with Philadelphians in supporting the Governor’s fight to fully fund the city’s public schools. 
 
“Mr. Green’s pointless power grab serves only to divert attention from the SRC’s failure to provide the city’s children with safe, adequately staffed schools, the instability created by their rushed decision to outsource substitutes, the millions paid to outside legal counsel in their attempt to cancel the teachers’ contract, or to address the impending chaos brought on by the forcing out of teachers and principals from seven district schools,” said Lisa Haver, co-founder of the Alliance.
 
“Commissioner Green’s attack on Governor Wolf doesn’t address the real issue:  that the people of this city continue to lose out because of the failure of the Republican-led legislature to fully fund Pennsylvania’s schools,” Haver said. 
 
APPS noted that Mr. Green  has refused to join the lawsuit challenging the under-funding of schools, has been criticized for shutting the public out of the decision making process, and has failed to obey Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act.
The Philadelphia Inquirer article about Green’s suit. The APPS press release is cited in the article.
Lawsuit: Restoring Bill Green as SRC Chair will help Philly schools | Philadelphia Inquirer – April 19, 2016.
Green sues to regain SRC chairmanship | Philadelphia Notebook – April 19, 2016
 In the update to the preceding Inquirer article about Green’s suit, Green is quoted as saying: “State legislators “might have more confidence in sending the district money” if he were in charge.” In other words, ALEC legislators would give more money for the School District if he were in charge because he would fast track the expansion of charters.
Note: Green’s lawsuit is being sponsored by the Fairness Center, a right-wing, anti-union think tank. It is affiliated with the Commonwealth Foundation which has ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).