Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools
A grass-roots organization of parents, community members, and school staff, fighting to defend public education. We work together to provide analysis and demand accountability from the School District of Philadelphia to provide students with a high-quality education.
Philadelphians who happened to be watching the Joy Reid show, which was aired nationally on MSNBC on Saturday, July 23, were surprised to see SRC Commissioner Farah Jimenez on a panel of “everyday voters” who said they were still undecided on the presidential election. Two of those viewers were APPS members Lynda Rubin and Lisa Haver. They sent the following letter to Commissioner Jimenez earlier this week:
Click here to read the letter to SRC Commissioner Farah Jimenez
By Lynda Rubin
July 11, 2016
This Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting, which had been posted for months for June 30 at 5:30pm, was changed just a couple of weeks before to Friday, July 1 at 10:00 am. Chairwoman Marjorie Neff introduced attendees to a “special meeting” of the SRC, but it was actually the Action Meeting for July. Moving a meeting to the Friday morning of the July 4th week-end continues the SRC’s pattern of changing meetings to days and times more difficult for parents and public to attend. (Last month, the SRC voted to change its 5:30 meeting time to 4:30; no reason was given.) Feather Houston was absent but participated by phone.
By Deborah Grill and Lynda Rubin
In the week just prior to the June 16th meeting, the SRC added 10 new resolutions to the over-130 already posted. They also withdrew, without explanation, 7 resolutions for charter renewals. Commissioner Farah Jimenez was not present at the meeting, neither in person nor by phone.
Although renewals for Aspira Stetson and Aspira Olney were not on the agenda, Stetson students were in attendance. PA Representative Angel Cruz and Aspira Chairman Fred Ramirez were on the speakers list to speak in favor of the Aspira renewals; neither showed up. Lisa Haver asked whether they were taking part instead in the private meetings which Aspira attorney Kenneth Trujillo had alluded to and that the district had acknowledged were taking place.
Click here to read the entire “Ears on the SRC – June 16, 2016
On June 16, 2016 the Philadelphia School Reform Commission held its monthly meeting.
This is the testimony of members of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools at this meeting.
All seven of the videos can be viewed here.
Click on the pictures below to view the individual video. The videos are in the order of testimony at the meeting.
Video of APPS member Robin Roberts testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – June 16, 2016.
The transcript of Robin’s testimony.
Video of APPS member Lisa Haver testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – June 16, 2016.
Lisa testified about the letter that APPS has sent to Governor Wolf and Mayor Nutter calling for an investigation into the SRC’s charter reauthorization process. The letter can be read here.
Video of APPS member Barbara Dowdall testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – June 16, 2016.
The transcript of Barbara’s testimony.
Video of APPS member Deborah Grill testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – June 16, 2016.
The transcript of Debbie’s testimony.
Video of APPS member Lynda Rubin testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – June 16, 2016.
The transcript of Lynda’s testimony.
Video of APPS member Robin Lowry testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – June 16, 2016.
Video of APPS member Richard Miglore testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – June 16, 2016.
Richard gave each member of the SRC a copy of his book “Whose School Is it? the Democratic Imperative for Our Schools”. In the video of the SRC you can see Bill Green’s copy laying on the floor.
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 