Even if a new budget proposed by Harrisburg Republicans passes and some funds are restored to education spending, the Philadelphia School District will still face a $610 million gap next year, officials said Wednesday.

Chief Financial Officer Michael Masch broke the news at a School Reform Commission meeting. Under Gov. Corbett’s proposed budget, the district would have to make $629 million in cuts, including losing more than 3,000 jobs, slashing transportation, ending full-day kindergarten, and cutting programs.

The district is set to lose $292 million in state aid in addition to the loss of federal stimulus funding. The counterproposal would increase the district’s state funding by 2 percent over Corbett’s plan, Masch said.

“Even with that, we will still need to implement all of the components of our gap-closing plan in order to achieve a balanced budget next year,” he said.

When Chairman Robert L. Archie Jr. asked what the SRC could do, general counsel Michael Davis reminded officials they had the power to cancel or renegotiate all collective-bargaining agreements.

If the district does not get $75 million in concessions from its unions, the budget gap will worsen, officials said. Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, has said he was not willing to renegotiate.

A number of parents told the SRC to consider minimizing cuts to specific programs.

Mirna Ramirez, a South Philadelphia mother with children in public schools, said she worried about cuts to services for English-language learners. The budget proposes cutting money for tutoring and supplies, as well as eliminating some bilingual teachers, bilingual counselor assistants, and one “Newcomer Learning Academy” for immigrant students.

“How will these teachers be able to support all of the special needs of all of the children in the classroom?” Ramirez asked. She invited officials to hold a meeting for the immigrant community.

Bonnie Raines, a volunteer with the nonprofit Public Citizens for Children and Youth, urged the SRC to consider limiting cuts in art and music.

“Kids need art,” Raines said. “It sparks their imagination and feeds their spirits. It improves their academic performance and encourages them to stay in school.”

Student Shayla Johnson, a senior at Overbrook High, asked the district to reconsider its safety spending.

Philadelphia Inquirer – May 12, 2011 – Read article online