Philadelphia public school students banded together outside City Hall on Thursday to send a message to elected officials about the steadily deteriorating school conditions in the wake of cutting funding for public education.
Students from Central High School, Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School, Science Leadership Academy, Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School and members of Youth United for Change, gathered at about 4 p.m., just several hours after city council finished conducting business during its weekly session.
It was part of an organized grass-roots campaign in support of school funding measures at the city and state level as the deadline for approving budget approaches. A performance by Kensington CAPA students kicked off a series of speeches.
“Maybe the city and state need to set up a drum line and work it out,” said Gretchen Elyse Walker, an advocate for education. “We are at City Hall. Students, parents, and the community needs the city council to step and allocate $195 million.”
A balanced budget plan relies on extending the city sales tax, which would provide $120 million in new school aid in the next budget cycle, according to School Superintendent William Hite, Jr.
Sandy Tang, 17, a junior at Central High School, told a crowd of more than 100 demonstrators that students are entitled to a thorough and efficient education under the commonwealth’s constitution.
“Philadelphia will not reach its potential unless we allow it to. At the rate we’re going now, we’re not even close to meeting our needs, not even close,” Tang said, adding that her school, which was recently rated among the best in the state, probably fares better than other public schools.
Without adequately funding schools, Tang added, “You can’t expect counselors and teachers to do their job and do their job well.” The effect would be detrimental to student performance too, she said.
Shanee Garner, co-director of education policy for Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PCCY), applauded students for supporting an important cause. “Students took the lead, and adults in this city need to follow,” she said.
Students, parents, school staff, clergy and educational advocates marched down Broad Street, stopping outside The Hyatt at the Bellevue building, which houses the governor’s regional office.
Signs with pointed messages were on display. One sign read, “Schools are no fun with no funds.” Another sign stated, “Not another child lost on your watch,” and specifically named Gov. Tom Corbett, School Reform Commission Chairman Bill Green, School Superintendent William Hite, Jr., and Council President Darrell Clarke. The message ended with the question, “What will you do.”
Youth United for Change opposed a proposal floated in the city council for splitting the revenue from an extended city sales tax between the public school district, which anticipates starting the next budget cycle nearly $300 million in debt, and the city’s pension program for employees.
A statement released by Youth United for Change Thursday made reference to two students who died at local hospitals after experiencing medical emergencies at a public school that did not have a school nurse on duty.
“Our schools are in dire need of resources and rehabilitation. We are in a battle for quality education and we need City Council to act responsibly now,” according to a flier circulated by the student group. “This is not a competition between the needs of students and city workers. The previous proposal, which Harrisburg has already approved, meets the needs of both groups.”
PCCY has come out in opposition to a proposal to split revenue from an extended city sales tax. Students could wind up being hurt the most if the school district loses the $120 million in anticipated revenue from a city sales tax extension, the organization said.
The sunset provision set to expire June 30 has been approved by state lawmakers but still requires the city council’s formal approval.
The Philadelphia Tribune – May 22, 2014 – Read article online