District finally reveals size of budget gap
by Paul Socolar on Feb 10 2011 Posted in Latest news
[Updated, 10:10 pm] Superintendent Arlene Ackerman today acknowledged the size of the District's budget gap for next year to be "$400 to $500 million or more" - an amount that likely represents about 15 percent of total District spending.
And officials describe their challenge as three-pronged:
- balancing this year's budget after an unexpected cut in state aid last week caused an immediate $36 million shortfall;
- eliminating the massive gap of as much as a half billion dollars for the fiscal year that starts in July; and
- dealing with the possibility that the gap could grow even larger if pending legislation on school vouchers and charter school enrollment caps is approved in Harrisburg.
The grim news was announced at a 4:30 p.m. press conference where Superintendent Ackerman, Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery, and Chief Financial Officer Michael Masch made brief presentations and fielded questions. The District until this event had declined to publicly put a number on the size of its budget gap.
The District's response to its financial woes was described as a process involving three phases, starting with immediate spending reductions and furlough days for top staff. Much deeper cuts in "phase two" for next school year, when the District faces a loss of federal stimulus funds, would include the following, according to Nunery:
- more furlough days,
- potential layoffs of one-fourth of all central office staff,
- cuts in school budgets, and
- increases in class size.
If caps on charter enrollment are lifted or a voucher bill is passed by the state legislature, Nunery acknowledged that the District will be forced to move into a "phase three" that "will disrupt our core programs and initiatives."
How that kind of disruption will be avoided in phase two is unclear. The scale of the budget gap dwarfs previous shortfalls confronted by the District over the past decade.
While the officials all emphasized the need to find savings in the central office, Masch noted that the entire budget for the 1,000-person central office amounts to only $92 million. The District could slash its central office spending by half and still capture only one-tenth of the necessary savings.
"What will be our first priority is the welfare of our students," Ackerman said.
In response to a question, Ackerman admitted the likelihood of some teacher layoffs if the gap ends up greater than $400 million. "Getting to $400 million is very tough," she acknowledged.
The District did not provide the media with any lists of cuts or other documents.
But one of the more specific cost-saving measures announced, effective immediately, is that Ackerman, her executive team, and any nonunion staff in central office making more than $100,000 per year will be expected to take unpaid furlough days between now and June 2012.
"Yesterday I announced to the SRC that as an example, I will start by taking 10 furlough days," Ackerman stated. The ten unpaid days, which a District spokesperson said would be spread over the next 16 months, would be equivalent to a pay reduction of just under 3 percent for the superintendent, or about $10,000 (on an annual basis).
The executive team will get eight-day furloughs, and the other high-paid staff will have six unpaid days. The total savings from the furloughs is half a million dollars, according to the spokesperson, Elizabeth Childs.
The District's worst nightmare is that its impending deficit could go higher. The state could decide cut its contribution to the basic education subsidy, pass a voucher bill, or lift caps on charter enrollment. Masch noted that each 100 students who move into charters cost the District roughly $1 million and it is difficult for the District to reduce school budgets to compensate for slight drops in enrollment that are spread spread over more than 260 schools.
District officials briefed City Council members on the budget this afternoon. The Inquirer reported on those discussions today and cited a District source who put the budget gap for next year at $490 million.
Comments (58)
Submitted by Anon and anon (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 20:38.
A mass email went out to teachers this event at 6 PM, saying that we will all be getting a "detailed memo" tomorrow. I wonder if my layoff notice will be stapled to it as well.
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:23.
That detailed memos said nothing new.
Submitted by Cog in the machine (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 22:30.
Ackerman is helping to bring about the death of Public Education in Philadelphia. Benjamin Franklin is rolling in his grave.
I love that Ackerman is will to take a 10 days furlough...I am sure it will give her time to spend some of her 65K bonus. She has done her damage, I hope she uses her days to interview for a new job.
We must contact our politicians and help them understand we must fund education.
Simply said we have one choice "EDUCATE or INCARCERATE" We can pay to teach and prepare them for life or we just have to pay to house them in jail later. Ackerman, Nutter, and our 2 governors love to blame unions, workers and the poor for the economy. NEVER FORGET IT WAS OUR POLITICIANS that made policy for banking.
The students have not left the city. The empty seats are because the city is fat with useless charter schools. Charters that are politically aligned. Ackerman, Nunnery and her crew should just leave. They have screwed out children enough for this life time.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 13:31.
Ackerman said she was going to retire from San Francisco back in 2002, but the school board there had some backbone (something in short supply here in Philly) and fired her. God help any other school district that gets saddled with her.
Submitted by Audax (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 22:47.
If that email is anything like what they went to Audenried with, it'll be empty and say, "We'll have more information later". This District is in shambles. Its a disgrace that it can't fulfill its core function because it doesn't make good decisions, doesn't make the hard choices, doesn't engage the community, the experts (their own teaching staff), and keeps repeating history. Vallas was slid out for a much smaller shortfall, it is time for Arlene to go.
Submitted by Marvin K. Mooney (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 23:14.
Archie and Ackerman need to GO NOW!!!! This is absolutely ridiculous. 500MILLION dollars???!!! As someone mentioned before, wasn't the SRC created to provide financial oversight?
And yet they will spend millions on 10 (?) new Promise Academies with no real data to prove whether or not they really are working to improve student achievement. How's that going to work?
Everyone who is invested in this district whether a student, teacher, parent, support staff, etc. needs to start asking questions and getting loud. We need to get the pressure on the leadership of this district before we fall totally off the cliff. It is time to organize ourselves into one group and start demanding answers NOW. IT is an election year here in Philly. Get on the phone, pressure your council critter, demand answers, call for investigations.
They are using public money but they are hiding what they have spent it on. It's our money we have every right to know how every penny was spent. NOTEBOOK file for this information under the Freedom of Information Act. Something stinks in this picture and it lies at 440 N. Broad St.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 23:56.
I totally agree. We do need to make noise. It is depressing what SHE has done to the SDP! She needs to walk away ASAP. I would take on her position for free at this point just to get some order at 440. When decisions are made I wonder what morons are sitting in a room banging their heads together and coming up with this junk! Let the teachers teach and let's get a leader with sense and an understanding of the children in Philly! Direct Instruction Reading and Math programs have been implemented in low performing schools. Who made that wild decision?! The students in the failing schools generally need the curriculum to appear fun to want to learn it... so let's throw boring D.I. programs at them. Better yet, let's torture the special needs students and make them sit for an hour or two and read to them as a group and expect them to retain information with little individualized instruction. Then the teachers are accountable for horrible decisions that are beyond us. This is all crazy. How does she look at herself everyday in the mirror or better yet, sit in front of cameras and speak verbal vomit with a smile on her face?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 00:18.
i think every teacher,parent, and student from all the schools arlene has handed over need to go to the district and protest. ackerman is acting like a neglectful mother who is giving away her children(the schools) to foster care(charters) and when they get tired of the said kids they will give them right back. she is getting paid to fix the schools not give them away or is she getting paid to give them away.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 05:35.
Can someone who was in attendance confirm that there was mention of possible layoffs for all teachers with less than 3yrs system seniority? That is what is being reported on Philly.com but they also stated their reporters were not allowed in the actual meeting.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 10:40.
That's because the reporter.s are stupid enough to leave. Council and Ackerman have no right to a private corruption fest. These reporters should have said I fyou want us to leave you'll have to arrest us
Submitted by K.R. Luebbert (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 11:26.
PFT Members should get in touch with their building reps to ask about the PFT General Membership Meeting last night. If your Building Rep did not attend (they really should have, but it was open to ALL members), call your staffer at the PFT office for info.
Submitted by J (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 12:06.
My building rep did not attend and is as useless and weak as Jerry Jordan himself. Unfortunately, I could not attend last night because of my child's health.
Philly.com did indeed say that those in the district with less than three years seniority would receive lay-off notices. I was hired in August 2008, am in my third year with the district. I feel terrified and sad.
If anyone could give info from last night's meeting, I would appreciate it.
Submitted by K.R. Luebbert (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 12:33.
I can say that the District did tell the Union that layoff notices COULD be sent to anyone with three of less years of SYSTEM SENIORITY (the date you were hired). That does not mean, however, that all of those people WILL be laid off. We will not know what will happen until the budget is in on May 31st. The Union took issue with the statement that layoff notices would be sent before the district actually has a budget, so we are not sure what they will do. The District--if they did lay off teachers, etc...--would have to call all of them back to work BEFORE they can hire ONE new person. We were advised to tell members that they should make sure that the Certification Office at 440 has ALL your valid certifications on file. If you have two or more areas of certification, you are better off than if you have just one. They have to try to find each member a job in each area of certification before they can be laid off. You can call the PFT Office on Chestnut Street or at 440 for more up to date info. Or check pft.org.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 13:27.
K.R., does this mean they have to hire everyone back before they can hire anyone from Philadelphia Teaching Fellows?
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 13:31.
It should also mean not more TFA (Teach for America) teachers. Last year they were hired because of a supposed contractual agreement (which occurred late in the school year).
Submitted by J (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 13:49.
Thank you! Man, it would be nice if the PFT wrote something like this on their website.
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:10.
At the meeting last night the issue of TFA contracts was brought up as a question. If there are all these forced transfers from the Renaissance Schools AND there are layoffs, we (the PFT members) certainly do not see how any TFA teachers could be hired. The PFT is looking hard at this issue. As for teaching fellows, I believe you are PFT members--I am not sure what will happen to the program. Arlene Kempin who mans the PFT office at 440 and is the PFT vice-president is really the expert on all the layoff and seniority rules and procedures.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:20.
It might be possible that the Teaching Fellows and TFA people will be prefered by charters.
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:30.
I would certainly think the union contract took precedence over any agreement the District has with TFA or Teaching Fellows. Those contracts provide for filling vacancies not for replacing existing positions. Forced transfers, either because of the Ren schools or declining enrollment must have first dibs. Otherwise union teachers essentially have no job security.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:36.
I guess we would need to see the contracts. All this is speculation and I hope the notebook can get some answers. I doubt the district or the Fellows will give straight answers.
The Teaching Fellows website says that "Fellows in the Summer program will be placed either through site selection or the traditional assignment process," but I don't know what to make of that.
http://www.philadelphiateachingfellows.org/securing_your_teaching_positi...
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:39.
That should be the way it goes. The TFA teachers were hired last year, but in that year there were no lay-offs. It will be interesting to see if District PFT teachers with less than three years experience will be laid off while TFA members with less than three years experience are kept on. The TFA positions (in District Schools) should be up for lay-offs if the District teachers are.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:20.
One point that seems to be lost here: TFA teachers ARE DISTRICT TEACHERS. Paid by the District. Members of the PFT in most cases (unless they opt not to join, just like any other new teacher). TFA is basically just a job placement agency that recruits and offers some professional development. Once you're hired by the District, the teachers are contractually no different than any other teacher. There are many criticisms of TFA, yes, but this idea that TFA teachers are some foreign entity entirely different from "real" District teachers is a misrepresentation of their role in schools.
A legitimate question would be whether the district makes new hires from TFA -- that's a bit of a controversial move. But TFA teachers, once hired, get force transferred, face the same jeopardy of not being retained, etc. as any other newly hired District teacher (TFA teachers placed in last year's renaissance schools had to re-apply (in Promise Academies) or get force transferred (in the charter situations) just like any other teacher employed by the District.)
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:33.
I appreciate the clarification. I think that the TFA program is a mystery to many of us. Although, if I understand it correctly, many TFA teachers hold emergency certifications which means that they are still working on full certification. Fully certified teachers should be retained before any emergency certified teachers (TFA or not) are retained.
Submitted by Anon and anon (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:41.
I cannot speak for TFA but Teaching Fellows are all fully certified with Intern Teaching Certificates, PRAXIS exams, etc.
Intern Certificates are not the same as emergency certification.
Submitted by Ron Whitehorne on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 21:11.
Yes, the issue is not those TFA or Teaching Fellows now working. They have the same status and contractural rights as other District teachers. The problem is the District has a contract to hire TFA and TF people for the coming school year. These contracts should be cancelled in order to insure that displaced teachers have positions.
Submitted by Annonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 07:50.
Exactly. Last year, TFA's contract, which I believe wasn't signed until May, took precedence in hiring before student teachers who had give (yes, donated their time/energy/etc.) a 1/2 to full year to the SDP. In other words, certified teachers.
Since there will be teacher layoffs, there should be no contract with TFA (or any other program) to "provide teachers."
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 13:42.
There is a major difference between traditionally hired public school teachers and the TFA teachers, the amount of education. Are you seriously equating getting a teaching degree via a college program with the jiffy-pop immersion TFAs take before being thrown into the classroom.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/13/2011 - 22:14.
Good for YOU!!!! Would you want an "intern-doctor" giving a prognosis or a diagnosis? Don't think so. I did not go to school in my "spare-time" earning a 4 year degree. I am fully certified, and strongly believe that preference should be given to those teachers holding either a Level I or a Level II certificate...NOT an intern certificate. As someone else mentioned out here, those for TFA are being PAID a full salary (and teaching) in order to obtain their certification. TFA = "Teachers in TRAINING".
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/14/2011 - 16:32.
Actually, if you go to a university or other teaching hospital, the people seeing a lot of the patients are interns.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 12:41.
I am a teacher who holds an Intern Certificate and I have a Master's degree in Education. I did not have Art, History or Chemistry in Undergrad (as I have a BS in Finance) so I received an Intern Certificate until those 3 classes were completed. I am no less qualified than a lot of the teachers in the District - an may be more so as I already have my Master's Degree... I did not cone through the TFA nor any other program. I was hired directly as any other teacher. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my BA and earned a 4.0 in my Master's program - I am not a teacher in training!!!!!
Submitted by Anon and anon (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:25.
Teaching Fellows have the option to join the union or not, just like any other teacher. Because as much as some people on this site would like to deny it, Fellows ARE teachers. I will never understand the animosity generated by many on this site towards Teaching Fellows. What massive sin have Fellows committed? Oh, I know. We realized later than some other people that we wanted to be educators. SORRY.
You are losing sight of the forest for the trees. Don't blame a few dozen Teaching Fellows for this jobs mess. Place the blame where it belongs--on a district that did not PLAN for this budget problem even though their own press release states that they knew LAST YEAR that the stimulus money wouldn't last.
As for how hiring works Teaching Fellows are free to participate in site selection in theory, but last year because of the hiring freeze, Teaching Fellows were all placed, many in Promise Academies.
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:37.
No one (at least not me) is blaming teaching fellows for this mess. From what I have seen it is a good program. I was simply trying to answer someone's question. We have a teaching fellow at our school, and she seems like she will be really good. I, myself, came into the district in a similar program (Literacy Interns), so I can hardly throw stones. It is just difficult for many people to understand the differentiation of the various programs and ways to enter the district now.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 13:15.
I've heard this too, but cant confirm anything.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 10:28.
Did Ackerman mention what furloughs she will be taking???
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 10:34.
Yes - 10 days unpaid spread out over several months. They say it will be equal to a 3% pay cut.
Wippeeeee
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 19:42.
But that was wrong of them to say "it is equal to a 3% pay cut." A pay cut means you still have to work those days...
Submitted by Marvin K. Mooney (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 19:54.
If you are paid a salary, how can you not get paid for a day you don't work??? I though furloughs applied more to hourly employees and not salaried. This woman and her entourage should all take a 50% pay cut. That means she would only get $164,000/year comparable to the salary of the Chancellor of the NY city schools. Then she would look more genuine about the "crisis" she knew would happen more than a year ago. This situation is the most back *sswards thing I have ever seen in my whole life. It's like mindspeak/groupthink.
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 20:06.
Really good point. They should work fro 10 of their vacation days. Or, as you say, take a huge salary cut.
Submitted by Paul Socolar on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 13:48.
Just to explain the math here - 10 furlough days means she will have 10 unpaid days off out of the next roughly 70 weeks or 350 days. That means a reduction in her pay over that time period of just under 3 percent. Factoring that against her salary on an annualized basis, that works out to about $10,000 less.
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:27.
3 % is exactly what I said. Why is that an acceptable "gift" to this problem? She should return her last bonus at least.
THose 10 days also should be out of this fiscal year, not the next 350 days. This fiscal year is the first issue - then she should take more for next year.
Submitted by Erika Owens on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 18:07.
A District press release says Ackerman has doubled her furlough days, effective immediately.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 13:22.
Does anyone know... does this include expected state cuts in the education budget or is this going to get even worse?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:41.
TFA teachers are being PAID to earn their certification while completing the required coursework!!!!!!! Let's consider those teachers first that FINISHED their degree and are fully certified under PA guidelines and regulations.These teachers worked at getting their degree and earned FULL certification before they were considered for hire. This holds true in any other profession, and should be the same here. TFA should not have preference over fully certified teachers in the district.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 20:28.
All teachers (TfA, Fellows, everyone else) are being paid to teach students. What they do in their "free" time (ie, take classes to further their certification, etc) is not what they are being paid to do.
Furthermore, all TfA and Fellows have finished their degree (at least one).
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:52.
Has anyone heard anything about what other positions besides teachers are in jeopardy of being cut ( reading recovery, counselors, etc)???
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 18:56.
has anyone heard what other positions are in jeopardy of being cut? (new teacher coaches, reading recovery, counselors)???
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 19:49.
I am wondering the same thing. Has anyone heard any news on counselors?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 01:39.
She has been spending money like water since she arrived. Demanding the CFO to find the money for her quick fix and toss them in the trash initiatives. What ever happened to MONDO? Spend and trash. Empowerment teams...spend and trash. Regional Superintendents....spend and trash inspirational speakers instead of professional development spend spend spend. How about $100,000 for advertising professional development that only 500 teachers attended.. How about the thousands of dollars on PR. The SRC advocates for Arlene not the children. The Imagine strategic plan is Imagine stealing from the children and getting away with it. Imagine!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 08:58.
Plus $234,000 for lobbying work in Harrisburg this year, given the dynamics of the political make up in Harrisburg this year this is another example of how out of touch and clueless she is.
Submitted by Hanako (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 15:13.
All of these impending cuts are all the more reason we need to get organized. Teachers and all those concerned about the future of public education in this city need to strategize around how we deal with the budget deficit and the continuing renaissancing of schools. Join the Teacher Action Group (TAG) and come together with other concerned educators working to create quality public education for all students!!! Email tagphilly@gmail.com or go to tagphilly.com for more information!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:51.
It was said that went to lay off Teacher with less then 3 years. Instead of doing that why don't they give the older teacher ones that have
30 years or more an incentive to retire first. Then they would not have to lay off any Teachers.See how that works .
Next hope that the voucher does not happen it would cause a lot of problems.
The class size should not be increased it would be difficult for every student to get what they need..
This new system Image It costs a lot of money maybe they should of held off before they decided to go a head and use it , to make sure they had enough money in the budget that they would not be in that bad of a situation they are in now.
Submitted by Hanako (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 16:58.
All of these impending cuts are all the more reason we need to get organized. Teachers and all those concerned about the future of public education in this city need to strategize around how we deal with the budget deficit and the continuing renaissancing of schools. Join the Teacher Action Group (TAG) and come together with other concerned educators working to create quality public education for all students!!! Email tagphilly@gmail.com or go to tagphilly.com for more information!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/12/2011 - 17:00.
Don't post
Submitted by Hope Moffett (not verified) on Sun, 02/13/2011 - 09:59.
I'm only interested in hearing that she will be refusing her $100,000 bonus. If she doesn't, we will know for sure that she is all talk. She lied when she said the administrative salaries were budget neutral. She also tried to tamp down rumors in December that the debt hole was this deep.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/14/2011 - 18:05.
A point:
1) part of the bad feelings that rightly or not rightly gets transferred to TF is that it is a program similar to TFA TFA, in my opinion is about giving jobs to people who are NOT looking to become career teachers and stay in the SDP. I don't know enough about TF, but my guess is that some of the bad feelings towards them is due to TFA. I also have to agree that a teacher with a full cert, who went to school and did student teaching should be in line for a job b/f a teacher who is learning as they get paid. Also... teachers with experience in the classroom should certainly come b/f TFAs or TFs.
Things stink in the SDP and the leadership taking unpaid leave is laughable if it wasn't so sad. It only reflects their lack of commitment to the SD and their warped way of thinking and dealing with problems. They should be taking cuts in pay while staying on the job to solve this problem. Better yet, bring new leadership that can make better pedagogical and administrative choices. This, together with the pressures from NCLB and the privatizing of education have led to a SD that is falling apart.
All this is hurting our children.
Submitted by SGB (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 19:27.
What is amazing to me is that the SRC and Ackerman do these things because they can. They would never get away with this in Lower Merion or other school districts where the parents are more involved. It was obvious to teachers how much money was being wasted on colorful pacing guides, walkthrough teams that I still do not know what good they do, useless Voyager PD's, Imagine It (when Storytown was just fine) and its PD's but apparently not to the nose-in-the-air 440 staff.
They put expensive programs in place and spend money like it's water and who does it hurt? The teachers who spend their money to make their classroom run smoothly and reward students, teachers who love to teach but are strangled by administrators, and most of all the students who ALL have to be proficient by 2014.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 21:30.
And don't forget the oral reading program that was bought for all empowerment schools 2 years ago and was never ever used. Wow the money the district paid this publishing company to come 2 times a month from the Wright Group to give us professional on this bs program.
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