Parents speak out about Philadelphia school budget

Parents teachers and others involved in the Philadelphia Public Schools are upset about the district’s plan to close up to 60 schools and dramatically change who oversees instruction. 

Home and School Association President Delores Solomon says proper funding needs to be found for the Philadelphia Public Schools.  She calls the restructuring “experimentation” on students.

“These repeated experiments on our children have not worked in the past and will not work now and must not be tolerated our children deserve the best we have to offer and this plan is not the answer,” said Solomon.

Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers says the cuts now are devastating and the new budget scenarios are worse.

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“Schools are left now with no money in order to deal with day to day operations that they need and they are going to be underfunded based on the districts testimony before council when schools open in September,” said Jordan.

The School Reform Commission says even if City Council agrees to send another $94 million to the schools, the district is still facing a $200 million hole in its budget for next year.

 The SRC says it’s struggling to close the gap while ensuring it can still deliver a basic education.

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