Wawa enters the cigarette-tax fray in Harrisburg

Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 06/19/2013 - 09:54 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Holly Otterbein for NewsWorks

Wawa is circulating literature that raises concerns about a proposal to tax cigarettes in Philadelphia.

City Council voted last week to impose a new $2 tax on every pack of cigarettes, but the proposal still would require state legislation. It is part of a plan to bail out the city's schools, which are facing a $304 million budget deficit next fiscal year.

The document that Wawa shared with some Pennsylvania lawmakers and the Corbett administration states that the $2 tax would create a black market for cigarettes.

Council: We've done our part for schools; now Pa. needs to help

Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 06/18/2013 - 18:36 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Tom MacDonald for NewsWorks

Philadelphia City Council is poised to pass its funding solution for the city's public schools this week. But the formula will depend on cooperation from Pennsylvania legislators.

The Council plans to pass a tax of $2-per-pack of cigarettes, proposed by Mayor Nutter, combined with enhanced revenue collection of about $28 million in back taxes.

Dream job lost, a beloved teacher hopes for return to her school

Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 06/18/2013 - 16:13 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Sonia Giebel

Natalie Hawtin, 2nd grade teacher at Greenfield Elementary, was one of 676 teachers laid off by the District on June 7. (Photo: courtesy of Natalie Hawtin)

Natalie Hawtin is in demand. “Parents are clamoring to have their children in her class next year,” wrote Greenfield Elementary School parent Jacqueline F. Bershad in a letter to Superintendent William Hite, “even though the other 2nd grade teachers are excellent, beloved, and much more experienced." 

Another parent, Serena Dignan Fisher, wishes she “could just clone [Ms. Hawtin]” because she is “that good.” For example, Hawtin helped introduce a nationally prominent literacy program to 2nd grade this year, which was her first at the school. Hite himself visited her classroom in October, and left impressed.

“He thanked me for my hard work and told me my classroom looked great,” Hawtin said.

The overlooked crisis of school leadership

Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 06/18/2013 - 12:42 Posted in Commentary | Permalink

by James H. Lytle

When I started working for the School District in 1970, there were 300,000 students attending 265 schools. When the new school year begins, there will be 200,000 students at 303 schools, including charter schools. There are now more and smaller schools than there were in 1970, when some high schools had 4,000 students and were on double shifts. In one sense, this shift can be seen as an improvement, because small schools tend to be more caring and effective than big schools.

But as the number of schools increased, the demand for school leaders -- principals -- grew markedly too. At the same time, the job of principal has become more complex, more demanding, and less attractive in a District ill-equipped to support or retain quality school leaders.