Monday, June 10, 2013

Letter to District: For our dedication we are rewarded with this? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Letter to District: For our dedication we are rewarded with this? | Philadelphia Public School Notebook:

Letter to District: For our dedication we are rewarded with this?

by thenotebook on Jun 10 2013 Posted in Latest news


The School District sent out layoff notices to nearly 3,800 employees last week. The following letter, written to the District, comes from Harvey Scribner, a teacher at Crossroads Accelerated Academy who has been teaching in the District for over four years. He received his pink slip over the weekend. 

Good Morning Sir,
I received my notice Saturday. I got it early in the morning so it could stick in the back of my brain all weekend like a splinter in a finger. I got it on a weekend so I could not clarify any of the points or contact anyone who could, at the very least, let me know what the next steps are. I lost sleep, got sick, and generally let it sink in.
The letter mentions to let someone at the School District of Philadelphia know if you are a veteran. I served honorably for 21 years in the PA National Guard and have deployed twice in service to my country. I am honorably discharged and hold the status of retiree from the army. I also have a rated Disability for Service Connected Injuries. I successfully completed the Troops to Teachers Program and I have been teaching in the District since January of 2009. I started at University City High School, stayed through the change to a Promise Academy, was forced out due to seniority last year, and was site-selected to teach at Crossroads Accelerated Academy at Elverson for this school year. As you know, this is an alternative education school providing critical intervention to students in the Philadelphia School District.