Will Philly ballot question help get rid of School Reform Commission?

Now that Philadelphia voters have approved a referendum to abolish the school reform commission, What happens now?   

Even though the ballot question was approved overwhelmingly, the School Reform Commission cannot be abolished without help from the commission members or the legislature.

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell says with the will of the people in hand it’s time to go to Harrisburg and ask for that to happen.

“It legitimizes our contact with the mayor the superintendent and the governor and says you’ve got to do things differently and that’s what this question does,” she said.

Blackwell says local control of the city school district is key to an education partnership with an elected school board.

“People want people, parents, grandparents, advocates who understand what they are going through and relate to the issues that exist so they just don’t hear every year, raise taxes, raise taxes, raise taxes.”

Those against the change say having the state in control helps obtain state money for Philly schools.