Philadelphia parents, students plead for city’s help with school budget



With the Philadelphia School District facing a $600 million deficit, there are a lot of people who have turned up to ask City Council to help out.

Parents, students and members of the clergy came to City Hall Wednesday to ask council to find money to preserve programs such as the arts and full-day kindergarten.

Ann Guise said she’s speaking up for students’ futures.

“Why there aren’t parents protesting and shutting the city down I don’t know,” said Ann Guise, saying that she was speaking up for the students’ future. “But there should not have to be protests for basic services to be provided.”

Student Kiera Marsh Hall said she is worried about what her school will do to survive without the extra money from the city.

“My school tries hard, but we do not have art, music, a library, a proper gym, a lunchroom or an auditorium and our building is already 101 years old,” she said. “Now we are going to lose four teachers and full-day kindergarten while there is increased funding for prisons.”

Mayor Michael Nutter and council members say they favor more school funding, but there is no plan for finding an extra $75 million to $110 million.