Protesters rally at Vare-Washington over loss of teachers, services
by thenotebook on Oct 23 2013 Posted in Latest news
Photo: Isaac Riddle
Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, addresses a crowd of protesters at Vare-Washington Elementary.
by Isaac Riddle
About 50 parents, teachers, students, and community members joined Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan in a protest about budget cuts outside of Vare-Washington Elementary School Wednesday afternoon.
The group gathered to voice concerns over the latest loss of programs and services at the South Philadelphia school and to talk about the impact the District’s leveling efforts will have on a school already hurting from staffing shortages brought on by districtwide budget cuts.
With leveling, every Fall the District aligns staffing projections with actual student enrollment. This often means having to shuffle teaching staff from one school to another to keep student-to-teacher ratios in line with contract requirements. With the District in the middle of a funding crisis, leveling has become a potentially devasting process for many schools in need of every available staffer.
Protesters at Vare-Washington said as a result of leveling -- which the District is expected to complete next week -- the school anticipates the loss of six teachers, a
Wall to wall at Roxborough: Career academies come back from the brink
by Bill Hangley Jr. Principal Dana Jenkins with teacher Mark Dumsha of Roxborough High School. (Photo: Bill Hangley Jr.) At Philadelphia Academies Inc., staff members are thinking big: They hope their handful of newly funded career academies are soon common in a school district that struggles to keep students engaged. At Roxborough High School in Northwest Philadelphia, students are just glad
An interview with Superintendent Hite
Superintendent William Hite took the helm of the city's schools last September amid historic turbulence. One year into his post, the superintendent will be sitting down with the Notebook's Dale Mezzacappa for a live interview at 11:30 a.m. today, where he will talk about the latest School District developments, such as the school funding crisis, contract negotiations, as well his plans for innova
Philly schools a big issue in controller debate
by Holly Otterbein for NewsWorks City controller candidates Alan Butkovitz and Terry Tracy might be running for the most overlooked office in Philadelphia, but their feisty debate Tuesday night centered on the hottest topic in the city: the cash-strapped School District. The face-off, co-sponsored by the Committee of Seventy, the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia and Young Involved Philadelph
Notes from the news, Oct. 23
Philly teachers' union, District at odds over two hires. Daily News Nutter: Council won't share info on schools plan. Inquirer Philly schools a big issue in Controller debate. NewsWorks New curriculum adds arts literacy to classrooms. Notebook Committee of Seventy: Governor should form panel to fill SRC seats. Notebook Replacing Pedro Ramos. AxisPhilly On eve of federal fraud trial, charter scho