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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 12, 2013 09:35 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark B. Cohen |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation to Repeal Act 46 of 1998 that provided for the School Reform Commission in Cities of the First Class |
| TO: All House Members FROM: Representative Mark Cohen SUBJECT: Co-Sponsorship of Legislation to Repeal Act 46 of 1998 that provided for the School Reform Commission in Cities of the First Class. In the near future I will introduce legislation to amend provisions of the School Code as amended by Act 46 of 1998 to restore governing power to Philadelphia’s now-irrelevant school board and to make the governance of Philadelphia School District similar to the governance of other school districts in the state. In 2002, frustrated by low student achievements and by financial crises, the legislature and Governor Mark Schweiker declared Philadelphia’s schools ‘distressed,’ dissolved its school board and installed an appointed School Reform Commission (SRC) that had the power to unilaterally impose contract terms, overhaul traditional schools and turn them into charters, lengthen the school day and year without compensating workers for those longer hours, layoff teachers regardless of seniority or tenure, and takes away the union’s right to strike, among other things. To date, there has been little or no use of these extraordinary powers other than as threats. This year, the SRC’s contract proposal wishes to remove the requirement that sufficient learning materials be supplied by the District for students it is charged with educating! The proposed contract also would remove limitations on class sizes (a variable proven to be effective, as smaller classes equal more accomplished students), would eliminate seniority as a basis for assignments and voluntary transfers, would not guarantee parking facilities or the availability of a faculty lounge, AND would cut overall salary costs by 16%, suggesting that teachers take a 13% cut in pay while also paying an additional 13% of their pay for health care benefits. Under the decade old tenure of the School Reform Commission, not only has the financial condition of the Philadelphia School District become worse, but the morale of its teachers, students and parents has plummeted in the face of determined disrespect. No one becomes a teacher because he or she longs to strike. People become teachers out of a passion to inform and improve the lives of students. The SRC has not improved education outcomes in Philadelphia. Except for improvements made in restructured, district-managed schools, neither cyber nor brick and mortar charters initiated by the SRC – whether for-profit or non-profits - have delivered much on promises of positive change for students. Yet, the SRC promises or threatens more layoffs, more closed schools, and we have to step in and say, “Enough, no more.” I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation to return equilibrium and purpose to Philadelphia’s schools. |
Introduced as HB1821