Education officials, City Council focus on state of education in Philly public schools

Philadelphia public schools are supposed to have more nurses and counselors next year.  

At a City Council hearing, school district officials said they can’t make promises beyond that that.

Philadelphia Councilwoman Helen Gym led the Monday hearing, saying education suffers when every school doesn’t have a nurse and there aren’t enough counselors.

“The shocking loss of counselors in schools has had a very devastating impact on students,” she said.

Marjorie Neff, who leads the School Reform Commission, had some good news and bad news for Council.

“We’re not coming to City Council this year asking for money from the city,” she said. “But there’s a point at which we will no longer be able to sustain what we are doing with the funds we are receiving and that has to be addressed.”

The district officials can afford nurses and counselors for next year, but after that funds might not be there.