Join PSU at School Reform Commission This Wednesday
Philadelphia Student Union asks you to attend the School Reform Commission (SRC) meeting this Wednesday April 22 from 6-8 p.m. at 440 North Broad St. In this meeting the SRC may vote on Imagine 2014, the District's strategic plan for school reform.
See MMP and Philadelphia Public School Notebook's coverage of the last SRC Meeting: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
In a PSU press release they explain their position:
We have always taken positions for transparency and accountability. Now we are facing a strategic plan that the School Reform Commission is being asked to pass with no budget and no priorities. At the last SRC meeting, only one commissioner even asked questions in public about the plan.
We have never taken a stance "for" or "against" the plan. That is not our job. Our role is neither to be a lackey or to stir up trouble for no reason. Our role is to hold those in charge accountable, which we will continue to do. We would like you to ask us to join us at the SRC meeting for several reasons:
1. This plan still has no budget and no priorities. Students have asked what they can expect to see in year one, year two of the plan. How will we know if the plan is succeeding? What will we see on the ground in our schools? We have no real answers.
2. If any organization or group tried to get money for a plan with no budget and no priorities, they would not be successful in doing so. We would think that since school district leaders are running a 3 billion dollar business (as one mentioned to us recently), the basic protocols of the real world would also be clear.
3. Critical dialogue is important in this process. The community meetings around the plan were a key first step! It is not appropriate for the district to adopt the "you're either with us or against us" mentality - that is a dangerous precedent moving forward in terms of community process, accountability and transparency.
Our work has already made an impact on the language and framework of the plan - and there are many great ideas in it - we will continue to move forward as an independent voice for students, families and communities!
We are asking the SRC to delay the vote *only until* there is a clear budget and priorities for each year of the plan, and amendments are made to the plan to ensure that
*an equitable distribution of qualified teachers is a top priority
*whole school transformation from below, driven by communities will be supported
*plans for English language learners and career and technical education are strengthened
If you would like to testify at the SRC please call 215-400-4180 by 4:30 today.
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