Toxic Schools – Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools

Board Must Reject “Gag Order” Policies

Eyes on the Board of Education: January 27, 2022

by Lisa Haver

The January Action Meeting had been billed as a remote one until members of the community raised objections on social media. The Board reopened all District school buildings this year despite the lack of personal protective equipment, timely Covid testing, and adequate ventilation in classrooms, where there is no social distancing. Yet the Board, with a couple of exceptions, continued to hold only virtual meetings, with some Board members in the auditorium and others at home. Last month it was not clear whether Board Member Cecelia Thompson was present in any way as neither her image nor her name ever appeared. Every once in a while her voice was heard. Ms. Thompson spoke at a rally in Harrisburg earlier this month. There is no reason for her not to attend the Board meeting in Philadelphia. APPS expects all Board members to attend the January meeting in person. The auditorium provides more than enough space for safe distancing.

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Testimony to the SDP Board of Education’s November Action Meeting and Policy Committee.

Click on the title to read a transcript of the individual speaker’s testimony.

Testimony at the Action Meeting, November 18, 2021

No Revisions to Policy 911 by Dana Carter

Public Mistrust Needs to be Built Not Trampled by Karel Kilimnik

Better Ventilation Systems Are Crucial By Lizzie Rothwell

Transform Our School Facilities into Healthy Schools by Greg Windle

Out Sourcing and Charity by Diane Payne

School Nurses’ Morale by Kathleen Celio

Testimony at the Policy Committee Meeting, November 4, 2003

Student Voter Registration Policy by Ilene Poses

Voter Education and Registration Policy by Thomas Quinn

Secret Deals and Speaker Suppression

Ears on the Board of Education: November 18, 2021

by Diane Payne

The Board practices speaker suppression in many ways. They abolished the committees that offered the school community a way to engage in real dialogue and deliberation. They gutted the official speaker policy, changing the rules from month to month and meeting to meeting. Those are obvious methods. But there are other ways to silence people. One is to add official items to the agenda after the sign-up window has closed, such as the charter renewals, so that only charter company representatives have a chance to be heard. Another is to add staff presentations to the agenda the day of the meeting, making it impossible for people to have a chance to comment or question. The Board does not post staff presentations before or even during the meeting, with the same results. And with only two minutes to speak, it is difficult if not impossible for people to address their issue and also ask a question about information presented during the meeting. Of the thirty speakers allowed to sign up, eleven did not show up. That meant the Board only had to listen to nineteen adult speakers, silencing an unknown number of speakers (including three APPS members who were barred this month), disenfranchising the public, undermining democracy, and shielding themselves from accountability.