Philly SRC hears dire warning on school funding
City public school students, already lagging in academic achievement, are in danger of slipping further if a looming budget gap of as much as a half-billion dollars becomes a reality, school officials were told Wednesday night.
"The incredible amount of progress we've made can be reversed if resources aren't available," Deputy Superintendent Leroy Nunery told the School Reform Commission. "We hope the public will rally to this particular call."
The potential gap of $400 million to $500 million for 2011-12 comes on top of a shortfall of $40 million for this school year, which triggered an immediate hiring freeze and sharp cuts in discretionary