SRC responds to mayor, will negotiate agreement
by Paul Socolar on Jun 08 2011 Posted in Latest news
Responding to Mayor Nutter's nine-page letter sent over the weekend demanding unprecedented access to the District's books and personnel, the School Reform Commission voted Wednesday to negotiate an "educational accountability agreement" with the mayor.
"The city is one of our most major funding partners and we want to do everything that we can to assure the city that the District will cooperate with it," said Commissioner Joseph Dworetzky, who introduced the resolution authorizing the move during Wednesday's SRC meeting. "I think we welcome the involvement of the city."
The mayor had called upon the SRC to come up with such an agreement by this Thursday, June 9.
The mayor's top education advisor, Lori Shorr, applauded the SRC's action. "They took a positive vote today and that's great," she said. "We've been working closely with the District for years, and I think this is just a new step in the relationship."
Shorr said that in advocating for the District's needs, the mayor kept hearing about accountability. "He wanted to ... take an excuse off the table of why people don't want to fund the District," she said.
The resolution, which passed unanimously with no discussion, says that the District, through the SRC chair, will:
- "negotiate an Educational Accountability Agreement in a form satisfactory to the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, and General Counsel, subject to final approval by the chairman;" and
- "execute, deliver and perform an Educational Accountability Agreement with the City of Philadelphia, in order to establish enhanced fiscal and other reporting, liaison, and mutual coordination and support between the parties."
Dworetzky said that the actual written agreement detailing what the District will make available must still be prepared. Nutter had set a Thursday deadline, and Dworetzky said he expected it would be met.
Nutter's letter was prepared after Superintendent Arlene Ackerman surprised him with an announcement Friday that she had found a way to save full-day kindergarten by redirecting federal Title I dollars -- after Nutter had said he would work to raise additional funds for that purpose.
Full-day kindergarten was the most prominent of several high-profile programs the District slashed to close a $629 million budget gap. The District also handed layoff notices this week to some 3,800 employees, including more than 1,500 teachers. The teacher layoffs are on hold pending the outcome of a court battle with the union over whether they were done according to the contract.
The mayor's anger at Ackerman's handling of the kindergarten issue was evident in both the letter and some of his subsequent statements. Ackerman later acknowledged that she had upset him, but didn't mean to, saying she was trying to resolve the issue as fast as possible for the sake of parents and to spare kindergarten teachers layoff notices.
Dworetzky and Commissioner Johnny Irizarry said after the meeting that greater openness regarding the District's budget was needed.
"I read the mayor's letter to say [he wanted] closer cooperation and real time information, and I totally get that," Dworetzky said. "I think we welcome the involvement of the city."
Irizarry said that Nutter's request was "reasonable. ... It's something that I think we all want. We know we have to explain, we have to be transparent, we have to be more accountable."
Despite widespread speculation about a falling out, Shorr said that the talks between the mayor and Ackerman had not broken down. "We're communicating, we're working together, we're deciding on priorities," she said. "I think that this agreement will help that even more."
Thursday's mayoral deadline for an accountability agreement is followed by City Council hearings Friday on the District's budget, a continuation of a two-day session in May. Council members are also expected to discuss Nutter's proposals to raise the property tax by 10 percent and impose a tax on sugary drinks as a way to raise additional funds for the District.
The city funds about one-third of the District's costs, with the state funding most of the rest. The SRC has no taxing power of its own. Nutter spent most of Tuesday in Harrisburg seeking additional state funding for the city schools.
Benjamin Herold contributed reporting for this article.
Comments (42)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 20:13.
Please--Stop the charade. They're all in this together. We're not that stupid.
Submitted by Your neighbor (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 20:18.
Time to call the Council critters and express your feelings on this whole debacle.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 20:25.
I am wondering why this issue has not come up yet, and is not being argued on June 14th. How come teachers by the thousands are being laid off. Yet, there is the continuance of bringing on TFA teachers. How is this fair??? Please Jerry Jordon, look into this.
Also, has anyone noticed that SITE SELECTION is still closed, yet there are teachers handing in resumes, and being offered positions??
Is this fair? No! Please stop the bashing of Promise Academy teachers, when there are offers of employment being made and accepted. (But Site Selection is closed?) What will the displaced teachers have to pick from when (i.e. Promise Academy teachers) who were told that they are accepting postions for next year, and that they will not go through Site Selection for any other school. Now, is that fair? Come on senior teachers, you are already working on "taking care of yourselves" and with offers being made. Please let's stay together on this. Remember the same person you are bashing may very well be the teacher that you will need to work with someday!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 20:38.
My principal interviewed an outside teacher for an open position at my school last week. How in the world is that possible when site selection wasn't even open? There are all kinds of shady things happening. Jerry Jordan can you please investigate this. It's obvious it's happening in a more than one building. Administration does what ever they feel like doing. How many other principals are interviewing people before site selection even opens?
Submitted by TeachersStandTogether (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 20:40.
Have you contacted the union about this so something can be done? It's an outrage.
Not sure how often Jerry Jordan reads these posts, but he might respond to an official complaint.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 08:26.
And what happens when it's a building rep who calls the teachers in for interviews for site selected positions? Don't forget...site selection is closed.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:45.
Truth is Jerry Jordan is very reluctant to deal with any emotion, it seems to me. The Queen and her cronies are bulling Jordan just like they do with nutter, the 2 having been separated at birth. Jordan needs to get rough and we all know how to deal with bullies. Of course, he won't do anything except the Foghorn Leghorn Act which is played out. The Queen ignores the Union Rights of people as though they don't exist and Jordan just sits and glowers without acting. He needs to get out of the way if he doesn't want to lead.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 21:19.
Jerry Jordan is just shocked, I tell me, just shocked !! Please !!
Submitted by Your neighbor (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 21:19.
We need to put our emotions aside and look at everything that is going on. No one should be bashing Promise Academy teachers. They are our brothers and sisters in our union. I believe that many are upset with all of the chaos around and are using the PA teachers as scapegoats. These teachers did not make any of these decisions that are affecting us all.
As to the issue of site selection. If teachers are interviewing and being hired BEFORE site selection has even begun, then that is WRONG and many of us senior teachers, have known that this has happened EVERY year since site selection was introduced (two or three contracts ago). This undermines the idea of solidarity and of having all of us on a level playing field.
With that being said, It is time for ALL of us to focus our anger on what has caused this entire fiasco: THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. They mismanaged the funds, they created this toxic climate through their idea of do what you are told or else (collaboration under directive). Their gross incompetence is what has created a District that is FUBAR and getting worse with each passing day.
WE NEED TO START CALLING OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. Friday they will be holding hearings about the District budget. It is time to feed them their questions to ask. Give them inside information, explain to them how this is affecting the students and the school community (inside and outside).
When summer break starts, we need to start visiting our State representatives and senators en masse. No one is going to listen to us if we don't start to make some REAL NOISE.
Submitted by p.h. (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 21:15.
I don't believe we mean to be bashing each other. You are right, we are in this together and need to stay together. The disgust with Ackerman may be displaced on Promise Academy teachers and that is wrong. None of us has any control of what happens to us at the hands of our administrators. Let;s remeber why we became teachers and stick together!
As far as site selection goes, what about forced transfers? They are picking after site selection? What will be left? I thought forced transfers picked before site selection opens. Many things do not seem right this year.
Submitted by Your neighbor (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 21:20.
I never heard of that, and I was a forced transfer last year. We picked after site selection.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 21:22.
And all of this corruption makes Jordan shocked, just shocked, I tell you !! Jordan needs to step down or step up. Either way, we all need to know which !!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 06:31.
Th calendar is available on the district website. http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/e/ee/ click on Timeline. It isn't totally up to date but forced transfers do not pick before Site Selection. Then what would be the point of Site Selection?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:21.
Schools are either 100 percent site select or 50%. The positions up now do not include layoffs. Those positions that are not filled through site selection go to traditional vacancies. Force transfers can site select if there is a school you desire. This year the first vacancy goes to Traditional. If a school has 2 or more then the school decides what they want traditional and which will be site select.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:35.
Thanks for that information, it is helpful. What I don't understand is the fact that the vacancy list does not reflect the teachers laid off, so if there are let's say 50 special ed vacancies on the list now and 100 got laid off, isn't there actually 150 open positions?
Submitted by LS Teach (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:42.
No, because caseloads can be increased and SEL's that lost their positions will return to the classroom and fill some vacancies.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:14.
Caseloads are determined by state and federal law, not the whims of Ackerman.
Submitted by LS Teach (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:21.
Caseloads are determined by the type of support, level of support and age of the students in the building.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:49.
The vacancy list should be updated after this mess is resolved.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/08/2011 - 23:36.
Nutter is Ackerman's lapdog....or her water boy. Please rid the city of this BEAST!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 06:02.
Wasteful spending
440 salaries:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/our-money/Phil-Goldsmith-flashback-Sc...
Submitted by TeachersStandTogether (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 06:32.
I am begging you - please investigate the "why" behind these teacher layoff numbers. We were originally told that they'd try to offset layoffs by eliminating positions left due to retirement and resignation. More than 700 teachers (and we've heard higher numbers) retired and resigned, yet 300 more teachers were laid off than we were told not only originally, but repeatedly. 1,200 should have turned to 500. Instead it turned to over 1,500. Instead of just reporting, will you please do some investigating? We most certainly can't count on the Inquirer to do it.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 06:38.
Well, district administrators at 440 responded to an email from a teacher in my building saying that everyone hired August 2009 or later was laid off. There is no "why" behind the numbers aside from this. It was not done according to contract or according to the actual needs of the students-- which is why nearly 400 special ed teachers were laid off. The district can't even maintain legal caseloads like that. It's all a game to them; this mass layoff has nothing to do with the numbers of teachers they actually need to layoff. Apparently, Miss Ackerman wants to burn down the house as she leaves it.
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 07:28.
This is not true. We have a teacher who was just hired in September of 2010, and she is safe.
I so wish the lies would stop.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 08:19.
I do too. That email was from Estelle Matthews.
Submitted by T (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:40.
A principal explained to a coworker that anyone hired after September of '09 certified in elementary education that is not on the list to teach Kindergarden received layoff notices.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 15:15.
I along with a few co-workers was hired before September of 09 with K-6 certs and were laid off. In some cases in my school the layoffs did not go to teachers who had a hire date mere days before mine. Heartbreaking.
Submitted by p.h. (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 18:21.
yes, the date thing is BULL! they do not match up in my school either!!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:38.
It's all a farce--nobody will really be without a job in September and your point about Special Ed. teachers is a perfect example. Truth is if the kids were in suburban districts, 80% of them would have an IEP and everybody knows it. Maybe even more than 80%. In any case, everybody will be back--Politics as usual.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 18:16.
Anyone know is ISO's got laid off too?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 06:53.
Doesn't anyone realize that when teachers signed to work at PA's that they were told that they were not "guaranteed a position"? I find it amazing that no one is squawking about teachers being offered positions at schools---and site selection is closed!
Wow! Imagine that! Teachers that signed on for a PA had to complete forms, interview at their school, hope to get picked, do a demo lesson, all without a guarantee!
Gee, now I see why no one is saying anything. Fair is only fair as long as it does not affect YOU!
Submitted by p.h. (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 18:19.
???... all new applicants and many site select candidates have to do interviews and demo lessons, etc. to get the position. None of us are guaranteed anything, I've seen fine teachers piss off an administrator and get picked on for nonsense all year. We need to support each other. This lay off didn't include me, but it does affect me because our kids are unfairly losing good teachers who are relatively young and are a great asset to the district- who, if treated with respect, may actually stay around for awhile!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 09:37.
The promise academies are formed to break the union not raise education. I have talked with many teachers at the pa's and they are destroying evidence twice as fast as the old regimes!!!!! LOL
Queenie is jerking the kids and the union around because Nutter and the SRC want the union dead!!!!!
Submitted by Meg (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:07.
what evidence? I know we have a habit of loosing pinkslips in this system and coding suspensions as 10's instead of the 7 they should get, but what else is going on?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 17:17.
PA's are making things up day by day. If you think Ackerman rules with the iron fist, try a PA. The principal becomes very offended when you have an issue you need to discuss. They attack you. Teachers never know what's happening from day to day. It's complete chaos most of our day. Whenever we have discipline problems, there is no support from the principal and the students know this. I don't think they are reporting downtown and when there is a walkthrough they tell problem students to stay home.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 18:29.
Wow, that sounds a lot like my school (not a PA). We only have 3 teachers in the entire building not laid off or not leaving the district. Never a straight answer. Policies are immediately broken, never enforced. One admin tells you one thing an another tells you the opposite. Sometimes, an admin will walk into my class as I am teaching and tell me to go cover someone else's class. Students openly curse at/throw things at the admins. They demand that we "control" our classes as they refuse to even attempt to handle it and walk away at the first sign of confrontation from a student.
You know, some of these schools just want brand-new teachers because they get away with more. As the days go by, I realize it is entirely teachers/students vs. everyone else in the district. We have each other's backs... nobody else does.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 18:40.
You just exactly described every empowerment school. To a tee.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 20:26.
It is heart warming how our students are rallying around us teachers who got laid off. Too bad Ackerman doesn't really care about the good of our kids. The kids verbalized how there will be all new staff next year. Now they will have to build trust all over again. It is so sad to see our school ripped apart because of these layoffs. 3 teachers left, over 11 laid off and at least 3 great teachers resigned because the system sucks.
Submitted by Frank Murphy on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 20:50.
Many of the teaching positions that Ackerman has targeted for elimination could be saved if she would simply rethink how she intends to spend our limited tax dollars. In fact, Ackerman could restore more than a hundred million dollars to important budget items by cutting unproven programs and unnecessary contracts.
The elimination of the extra funding that Ackerman intends to direct towards her experimental Promise Academies could easily save 300 teaching positions. She could also put an end to the pricey benchmark testing contract, and every other vendor contract that is legally possible. This would result in at least a $100 million in savings that could be used to restore another 1,000 teaching positions.
Putting money into maintaining an effective teaching staff rather than into purchasing canned instructional programs and services of outside consultants is a choice that makes sense in the long run.
In a successful school there isn’t anything more important to student success than an effective teacher. To sacrifice as many teachers as Ackerman is proposing in order to maintain her legacy reform projects is unconscionable.
Submitted by Christina (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 20:59.
Amen. This is not rocket science, just good thinking. We might not be able to teach inorganic minerals to read yet, but we could balance the budget if anyone asked us to...
Submitted by Keep on truckin' (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 21:11.
I'm absolutely in agreement with you here. Why are some schools allowed to have more per pupil spending than others, anyway? Doesn't seem right to me...
I'm for equal student funding, retaining teachers, real, diverse, interesting curriculum, and getting rid of all but maybe one test per year. Let us do our jobs, and stop micro-managing us! We are educated professionals, for crying out loud!
Submitted by Teacher (K.R. Luebbert) (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 21:44.
Absolutely correct, and so full of common sense that the powers-that-be cannot comprehend it! Much research has proven that the most important in-school factor for children's learning is an effective teacher (not canned materials). Of course, we all know there are many out of school factors that we cannot control, but allowing us to control the in-school issues and learning would be a great start.
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