Defenders of Public Education Speak Before the BOE, November 21, 2019

BOE

Click on the individual’s name to read a transcript of his or her testimony.

 Kathleen Butts on Environmental Safety Plan

Peg Devine on Student Immunizations

Barbara Dowdall on Public School Dreams

Eileen Duffey on Student Immunizations

Deborah Grill on Outsourcing to Attuned Partners

Lisa Haver on Accountability and Responsibility

Daun Kauffman on Grants for STEP

Kristin Luebbert on the K-2 Suspension Ban

Tricia Malloy on Student Immunizations

Heather Marcus on the Contract with KIPP

Diane Payne on Accountability and Outsourcing

Ilene Poses on Using Local Resources

Coleen Quinn on Student Immunizations

Lynda Rubin on Outsourcing Programs ro Private Companies

 

 

Ears on the Board of Education, November 21, 2019

by Diane Payne

The eight APPS members in attendance, along with our supporters, stood and read in unison our legal objection to the Board’s ongoing violations of the PA Sunshine Act–this month the secret vote on the Boys Latin Charter School renewal.  This Board votes on all charter school issues (and only charter school issues) without providing the text of the Action Item or reading the text of the Item into the record. This is tantamount to voting in secret because the public has no information on the details on this item at the time of the vote.  President Wilkerson attempted to gavel and talk over us, thus failing to acknowledge the Board’s obligation to listen to members of the public formally objecting under Section 710(c) of the PA Sunshine Act.

About a dozen school nurses showed up to protest the mismanagement of Health Services in the District.  The eloquent and comprehensive testimonies of the nurses showed once again that Philadelphia school nurses are highly professional, credentialed, and competent.

Click here to read the rest of the report

Policy Committee Meeting: November 14, 2019

by Lynda Rubin

 The Policy Committee reviews all School District policies, some decades old, to revise, update or eliminate any in order to reflect current needs and practices. Despite repeated requests, copies of policies on the agenda were not available to members of the public in attendance. One binder with one set of the policies under consideration was placed on the desk outside the meeting room with instructions not to remove; that is, there is no way to be in the meeting and review the policy revisions at the same time. APPS continues to ask the Board to provide copies of all meeting materials so that “public engagement” can be more than a slogan.

Present: Co-Chairs Dr. Maria McColgan and Joyce Wilkerson; Committee Members Julia Danzy, Chris McGinley, and Lee Huang. Board Leticia Egea-Hinton and Angela McIver also attended.

District Chief of Staff  Naomi Wyatt made a brief presentation listing proposed revisions to policies to be voted on by the full Board at the November 21 2019 Action Meeting.

Continue reading here.

Student Achievement and Support Committee: November 14, 2019

by Lynda Rubin

This was the third and final Committee meeting of the day. Like the others, the pace was brisk, there were few answers to questions posed by members of the public, and there was little dialogue.

Present:  Co-Chairs Dr. Angela McIver and Dr. Chris McGinley, Committee members Mallory Fix Lopez, Julia Danzy and Dr. Maria McColgan. Board members President Joyce Wilkerson and Wayne Walker sat in for most of the meeting.  Minutes of the October 10, 2019 Student Achievement and Support Committee were approved and will be posted on the District website. McGiver announced that, when possible, items to be discussed will be posted one week before the meeting.

Continue reading here.