Have you seen the details of the School District’s 2013-14 budget? Here’s the bottom line: most schools will have a principal and teachers of mandated subjects. No assistant principal, no aides, no extracurricular activities. No office staff, no counselor, no nurse, no books, no supplies, no art, no music. You get the picture. Distressingly few of our elected officials are showing the political will to avert this disaster for the City. (Here’s one article summarizing City Council’s reaction to its constituents’ pleas: http://thenotebook.org/blog/135944/despite-parent-teacher-pleas-council-still-not-moved-district-budget-woes.)
At the Spruce Hill May Fair on May 11th, concerned neighbors will be collecting signatures on petitions to elected officials at the local (including Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell) and state levels, urging them to fund functioning schools for all Philadelphia children. SHCA is generously donating a table to the effort. We are asking for your help, in two ways: 1. Volunteer to help staff the table. The May Fair is a can’t-miss event, so you already want to be there, right? Please donate some of your time to an issue that is fundamental to the health of our City! You may sign up to staff the table here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aj55sxgsz65jdEk2bWo2UGRhZHdmVHdWQ2tRa3JrOFE#gid=0 2. Stop by the table on May 11th to review the petitions and sign on! Gutting public education will hurt all of us, even those without kids in the public schools. Please pitch in. See you at the May Fair!
