►
Description
The Committee of the Whole of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 2:00 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:
181014 Resolution calling for the Council Committee of the Whole to convene public meetings and public hearings pursuant to the Educational Supplement of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to review the administration, management, operations, and finances of the School District and adopt plans to coordinate the activities of the Board of Education, the Mayor, and the City Council for the improvement and benefit of public education in Philadelphia.
A
Thank
you
and
welcome.
Thank
you
all
for
coming
in
today.
This
is
a
public
meeting
and
hearing
I'll
call
to
order
I
recognize
the
president
of
the
council,
members,
the
Board
of
Education
and
members
and
the
mayor.
This
public
meeting
and
hearing
of
the
council,
the
Board
of
Education
and
the
mayor
are
for
the
purpose
of
coordinating
our
activities
for
the
improvement
and
a
benefit
of
public
education
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
as
required
by
section
12
209
of
the
Home
Rule
Charter
and
council
resolution
number
one
eight
101
for
mr.
Christmas.
A
Thank
you,
sir
City,
here
with
me
today,
our
mayor
James
Kinney
Board
of
Education
president
Joyce
Wilkerson
school
superintendent,
dr.
William,
height
board
members,
Julia
Danzig,
Leticia,
Hinton,
Mallory
fix
Lopez,
leha,
Wayne,
Maria,
McColgan,
Christmas,
Christmas
Jimmy
is
not
here:
Angela
McIver
and
student
Warp,
representative,
Julia
Frank
and
Alfredo
practicode.
If
I'm
missing
any
school
board
members,
everybody
I
would
like
to
welcome
you
all
here
today
for
our
second
partnership
meeting
since
the
restoration
of
local
control
over
the
Philadelphia
School
District.
Today's
agenda
will
go
as
follows.
First,
mayor
Kenny
will
be
recognized
for
remarks.
A
Then
the
board
president
Joyce
Wilkinson
will
be
recognized
for
the
purpose
of
introducing
board
members
and
the
superintendent,
and
the
board
will
make
a
presentation
when
it's
fir
sheer
accomplishments.
Dr.
heit
will
then
present
on
the
district's
major
accomplishments
in
the
2018-2019
school
year,
and
we
will
then
have
questions
and
comment
from
council
members
followed
by
public
testimony
and
adjournment
after
more
than
chairs
giving
remarks
after
more
than
17
years
under
the
local
school
reform.
You
know
what
I'm
going
to
skip
the
remarks.
A
We're
gonna
get
straight
to
the
bread
and
butter
of
the
purpose
of
us
being
here.
We
first
of
all,
we
want
to
thank
everybody
for
being
here
today.
We
genuinely
appreciate
you
being
a
full
participant
in
this.
We
have
and
have
called
for
local
control
of
our
schools,
because
that
is
very
important,
because
there
are
our
schools
and
there
are
our
kids
and,
at
the
end
of
the
day,
it's
our
responsibility
to
make
sure
that
the
appropriate
educational
process
is
taking
place.
A
D
Thank
You
mr.
mayor
Thank
You.
Mr.
president,
I'm
good
afternoon,
everyone
I
wanna.
Thank
you.
I
want
to
thank
the
council,
president
members
of
City
Council
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
today
alongside
members
of
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
and
our
Board
of
Education
at
this
biannual
meeting,
supported
by
the
Educational
Supplement
of
the
homerooms
up
to
the
Home
Rule
Charter.
We
are
all
here
today
because
we
are
all
striving
to
create
an
equitable
quality
education
system
that
will
prepare
our
youth
for
success.
We
know
that
our
city's
future
depends
on
it.
D
We
also
know
that
our
children
deserve
the
support
they
need
to
better
prepare
to
enter
the
workforce
and
become
our
future
leaders.
For
this
reason,
the
reason
our
administration
proposed
budget
will
allocate
one
point:
two
billion
dollars
in
general
fund
contributions
to
the
school
district
over
five
years.
This
is
over
700
million.
More
than
would
have
would
have
gone
to
this
district
without
the
commitment
that
we
made
last
year.
This
funding
will
help
our
schools
continue
to
build
upon
the
progress
we
have
already
started
with
the
supportive
leadership
of
the
Board
of
Education,
dr.
D
heit
and
his
team
over
the
last
three
years,
the
school
districts
overall
performance
as
continuously
improved.
In
that
time,
we've
doubled
the
number
of
high-performing
schools
in
Philadelphia
and
we've
reduced.
The
number
of
lower
performing
schools
by
half
most
schools
are
making
progress
in
key
areas
of
achievement.
School
climate
and
college
and
career
readiness
and
more
students
are
attending
school
consistently
and
graduating
on
time.
D
I
am
confident
the
district
can
build
on
these
promising
signs
of
progress,
and
the
city
of
Philadelphia
is
committed
to
supporting
them
in
any
way
we
can
and
I
know
with
the
continued
dedication
of
everyone
in
this
room,
we
will
make
sure
that
our
youth
succeed
in
addition
to
more
funding.
We
must
also
continue
to
invest
in
the
strategies
that
have
proven
effective
around
early
literacy
and
college
and
career
readiness.
D
I'm
excited
to
see
the
progress
we've
made
through
our
citywide
out-of-school
time,
initiative,
which
aligns
with
the
district
goals
to
provide
safe
spaces
and
quality
programming
for
our
kids.
Dhhs
has
put
out
a
22
million
dollar
RFP
last
month
for
out-of-school
time.
Programs
that
support
the
district's
goals
and
I
have
no
doubt
that
these
programs
will
add
tremendous
value
to
our
children's
that
get
that
academic
experience
and
will
contribute
to
their
personal
growth,
Career
and
Technical.
D
Education
programs
also
offered
in
schools
like
Southern,
Swensen,
Randolph
and
furnace
prepare
students
for
specialized
trades
or
college
or
College
as
a
result,
help
grow
our
economy,
we're
also
working
to
create
a
new
joint
office
of
career
connected
education
with
the
district
which
will
connect
our
students
with
potential
employers
and
job
opportunities
over
the
past
three
years.
We
have
also
helped
more
than
4,000
children
that
are
prepared
for
kindergarten
through
our
phl
pre-k
program.
D
I'm,
proud
of
what
phl
pre-k
has
accomplished
in
such
a
short
amount
of
time
and
I'm
excited
to
see
the
program
expand
to
make
1000
more
seats
available
in
the
coming
school
year.
I
was
also
glad
to
announce
five
new
community
schools.
Last
week,
alongside
council
president
clark
and
school
board,
president
Wilkerson
and
superintendent
Hite
I'm
proud
of
the
work
that
we've
done
together
to
establish
17
community
schools
and
served
and
serve
thousands
of
students,
as
well
as
their
families
and
their
neighbors.
D
With
the
support
of
many
in
this
chamber,
we
have
prioritized
getting
more
behavioral
health
services
to
our
students
by
putting
social
case
managers
and
family
peer
specialists
in
20:21
district
schools
through
the
step
program,
with
funding
for
department
of
behavioral
health,
we're
working
closely
with
the
district
to
explore
how
we
can
continue
to
build
upon
the
success
of
step.
All
of
this
is
supported
by
our
locally
appointed
Board
of
Education,
which
has
been
a
fierce
advocate
for
our
children
and
our
district
for
almost
a
year.
D
Now,
with
this
diverse
local
board
in
place,
we
can
hold
us.
We
can
hold
us
more
accountable.
Philadelphians
can
hold
us
more
accountable
for
the
future
of
our
public
school
system.
Considering
all
that
we've
accomplished
thus
far,
I
am
sure
that
residents
across
our
city
will
gain
more
confidence
in
our
schools
and
will
feel
the
impact
of
this
work
in
their
neighborhoods.
We
know
that
when
all
of
our
students
succeed,
our
city
thrives
and
becomes
a
better
place
to
live
work
and
play
neighborhoods
grow
with
the
support
of
quality
schools.
D
In
the
past,
it's
been
frustrating
to
hear
of
people
leaving
our
city
or
choosing
not
to
live
here,
because
our
because
of
our
school
system,
but
because
of
the
immense
progress
we've
made,
we
are
attracting
new
families
and
businesses
and
are
keeping
more
long-term
residents
in
our
city.
More
and
more
families
are
opting
to
be
part
of
the
district's
progress
and
I'm
very
encouraged
for
the
future
of
our
public
school
system,
so
many
people,
many
of
whom
are
in
this
room,
have
made
so
much
of
this
work
possible.
I'm
grateful
for
dr.
D
Heights
leadership,
reversing
the
damaging
effects
of
our
schools
after
years
of
underfunding
is
no
easy
task,
but
he
has
shown
a
true
commitment
to
our
kids
every
step
of
the
way.
I
want
to
thank
thank
our
partners,
including
the
PFT
32bj
SEIU
and
Casa,
and
the
fund
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia,
and
thank
you
especially
to
our
teachers.
Counselors
nurses,
support
staff,
administrators
and
OST
providers
who
are
on
the
ground
in
our
schools
every
day,
making
a
difference
in
our
children's
lives.
D
We
are
also
fortunate
to
have
a
local
legislative
delegation
and
a
governor
who
are
committed
to
improving
our
education
system
in
the
state.
Our
children
deserve
every
opportunity
to
reach
their
full
potential
and
I
believe
our
combined
efforts
will
continue
to
continue
the
immense
progress
we've
made
over
the
last
few
years.
Last
week,
I
went
to
my
200th
school
visit
since
becoming
mayor.
I
always
say
it's
my
favorite
part
of
the
job
and
that's
the
honest
truth
and
when
I
think
back
on
what
I've
learned
from
these.
It's
really
simple.
D
Our
kids
are
perfect:
they're,
smart,
they're,
talented
and
they're
resilient,
and
they
deserve
all
the
resources
to
supports
that
we
can
provide,
and
then
some
so
I'm
very
proud
to
work
alongside
members
of
City
Council,
the
school
district,
the
board
or
equally
committed
to
our
students.
I
look
forward
to
continuing
to
work
with
all
of
you
to
accelerate
our
progress
and
ensure
we
have
a
quality
public
quality
public
schools
in
every
neighborhood
in
our
city.
Thank
you.
A
E
Thank
You
council
president
Clark
I
also
want
to
take
this
opportunity
to
thank
you,
members
of
the
city
and
you
mr.
mayor,
for
your
continuous
support
and
for
having
us
here
today.
Without
the
enormous
support
that
you've
provided
over
the
last
years,
we
wouldn't
be
able
to
make
the
presentation
and
recognize
the
accomplishments
that
we're
going
to
talk
about
today.
I
also
want
to
recognize
the
board
members
who
are
here
today.
E
There's
has
been
a
profound
commitment,
we're
currently
on
track
to
have
held
50
public
meetings
by
the
end
of
our
first
year
as
a
point
of
reference,
the
SRC.
At
this
point
it
only
had
24
meetings.
We
know
that
this
commitment
to
a
public
and
accessible
governance
structure
could
not
have
been
possible
without
the
help
of
every
person
in
this
room,
and
we
want
to
thank
you
and
everyone
for
your
support,
helping
us
navigate
our
first
year
in
this
roles.
E
We've
had
a
home
we've
been
hard
at
work
this
year
and
are
proud
to
share
with
you
our
journey
and
our
accomplishments.
Thus
far
over
the
course
of
our
first
year,
we've
aimed
to
overhaul
the
way
in
which
school
governance
looks
feels
and
operates
in
Philadelphia.
We
started
this
work
last
summer
by
engaging
with
community
through
a
listening
session
on
their
hopes
and
dreams
for
public
education
in
Philadelphia.
Through
this
input
and
other
input,
it
became
clear
that
we
need
to
have
four
key
priorities
that
must
drive
our
work.
E
The
first
de
student
achievement
the
second
transparency
and
accessibility.
The
third
is
a
recognition
that
we
operate.
One
system
of
quality
schools
and
the
fourth
is
financial
fiscal
stability.
To
organize
ourselves
around
these
priorities,
we
establish
four
committees
which
have
met
regularly
throughout
the
year
to
engage
publicly
on
key
issues
related
to
these
priorities.
I'm
going
to
introduce
representatives
from
each
committee
to
discuss
some
of
our
key
work
and
I'll
be
starting
with
dr.
Angela
McGuyver,
who
is
co-chair
with
Chris
McKinley
of
our
student
achievement
committee.
Thank.
F
You
hello,
I
am
proud
to
co-chair
the
student
achievement
as
a
committee
with
dr.
Chris
McKinley,
who
can't
be
here
today.
We've
spent
the
year
engaging
on
the
boards
most
fundamental
work,
improving
student
achievement,
it's
imperative
that
we
set
priorities
that
enhance
student
achievement
and
invest
in
programs
that
we
know
work
whatever
we
do.
Whatever
actions
we
take,
we
need
to
keep
our
students
academic
achievements
top
of
mind
since
September
2018.
Our
student
achievement
and
support
committee
has
held
18
hours
of
public
meetings
and
discuss
27
topics,
including
early
literacy,
teacher
recruitment
and
retention.
F
The
curriculum
entered
an
instructional
core,
the
comprehensive
district-wide
plan.
The
every
student
succeeds
act,
essa
update
recommendations
of
school
year
to
2019,
2020
and
2020,
and
21
Calendar,
which
took
a
lot
more
than
I,
would
have
thought
multicultural,
curriculum
and
programs
comprehensive
school
and
Improvement
CSI,
and
additional
targeted
support
and
improvement.
Ats
I
planning
process,
special
education
programs
and
initiatives
before
the
year
is
out.
The
student
achievement
committee
will
also
discuss
the
athletics
programs,
extracurricular
activities
and
out-of-school-time
partnerships.
F
G
I,
as
mentioned
I'm,
one
of
the
co-chairs
of
the
Community
Partnership
for
district
partnership
and
community
engaged
system,
and
we
are
we
understood
from
the
beginning,
even
beginning,
with
our
listening
sessions,
we
were
going
to
orientation
that
the
public
basically
was
saying.
We
don't
know
what
you
do.
G
We
don't
understand
how
you
come
to
decisions
and
how
you
do
things,
because
our
regular
meetings
before
were
just
how
they
would
present,
and
then
we
would
give
up
pieces,
and
so
we
recognized
that
what
we
needed
to
do
for
have
faith
in
our
governance
structure
by
making
our
decisions,
transparent,
transparent
and
accessible.
We
wanted
to
let
the
public
know
how
we
made
final
decisions
and
to
allow
them
to
have
meaningful
involvement
with
them
prior
to
they've
enacted
into
law.
G
First,
as
you
already
know,
we
have
created
a
community
structure
with
four
committees
where
hot
topics
and
critical
decisions
are
presented
and
discussed
in
public
before
we
take
action
on
them.
We
started
social
media
accounts,
email
campaigns
and
a
monthly
newsletter
so
that
we
can
better
communicate
with
the
public.
G
We've
updated
our
website
to
make
it
more
accessible
and
easy
to
understand,
and
we
introduced
a
new
board
management
system
called
Novus
that
gives
the
public
and
easier
way
to
track
our
decisions
and
where
we
are
spending
money
by
the
end
of
June,
our
committee
will
have
held
a
total
of
27
public
meetings,
which
are
more
intimate
and
allow
more
space
for
conversation
as
compared
to
our
regular
action
meetings.
Board
members
have
engaged
with
stakeholders
who
have
come
to
committee
meetings
to
listen
to
concerns
and
provide
responses
in
real
time
or
by
the
next
meeting.
G
Our
committee
structure
has
allowed
us
over
as
allowed
additional
stakeholders
the
opportunity
to
participate
in
the
process
and,
overall,
these
committee
feels,
though
they
have
focused
on
setting
a
positive
tone
for
public
engagement
through
active
listening
by
demonstrating
and
valuing
what
people
say
and
incorporating
the
issues
raised
in
our
works.
Finally,
our
committee
was
specifically
designed
to
address
issues
of
partnership
and
engagement
with
the
district
we've
held,
two
public
meetings
outside
with
the
district
headquarters,
one
in
North
Philadelphia
and
the
other
ends
where
in
West,
Philly
and
Councilman
black
world
I
want
to.
G
Thank
you
for
the
help
you
did
in
helping
us
to
get
organizing
the
facility
in
West
Philly.
At
that
meeting,
they
again
informed.
We
heard
more
and
more
what
they
were
saying.
They
were
giving
us
ideas
of
what
we
we
do
and
based
on
that,
my
partner
and
co-chair
Mallory
fixa
Lopez
will
tell
you
about
some
of
the
things
that
we
heard.
H
So
again,
as
Julie
had
said,
the
biggest
thing
that
we've
heard
is
the
need
for
transparency
and
the
interest
in
active
engagement,
and
so
while
the
two
meetings
were
a
start
for
us,
we're
working
to
do
more.
The
Home
Rule
Charter
requires
the
creation
of
a
parent
community,
Advisory
Council
of
the
board
and
we're
determined
to
make
full
use
of
this
new
entity.
H
Our
district
partnerships
and
community
engagement
committee
has
led
the
process
in
selecting
13
individuals
from
across
the
city
to
act
as
our
ears
on
the
ground,
so
that
we
can
get
more
information
about
our
key
decisions
and
gain
a
better
understanding
of
the
experiences
that
our
families
and
community
members
have
with
public
education.
Next
year,
these
13
individuals
will
be
spreading
out
across
Philadelphia
to
engage
diverse
communities
and
giving
feedback
to
the
district
around
important
issues.
H
And
last
and
most
importantly,
we
have
brought
student
voice
to
our
team
by
welcoming
and
working
closely
with
two
student
board
representatives,
Julia
Frank
and
Alfredo
practical.
These
students
have
been
fundamental
and
providing
insight
into
the
concerns
of
their
peers,
and
they
have
been
a
pleasure
to
work
with
their
term.
Is
coming
to
an
end,
but
they
will
be
presenting
us
with
their
recommendations
for
their
year
from
their
year
on
the
board,
and
we
will
welcome
two
new
students
at
our
June
action
meeting.
I
Afternoon,
everyone
I
am
very
honored
to
be
the
co-chair
of
the
policy
committee,
along
with
our
board
President
Joyce
Wilkerson
I
wanted
to
discuss
our
third
priority,
creating
one
system
of
quality
schools
of
great
schools.
One
thing
we
hear
again
and
again
from
parents,
teachers
and
community
members
is
that
they
don't
care
about
the
differences
between
district
schools
and
charter
schools.
I
Our
policy
committee
has
so
far
reviewed
49
policies
to
be
recommended
to
the
full
Board
for
adoption.
The
committee
is
committed
to
reviewing
each
of
the
existing
policies
to
assure
that
all
board
policies
are
current,
streamlined
and
readily
available.
We
held
quarterly
meetings
to
review
the
board
policy
manual
and
provide
recommendations
to
the
full
board
before
adopting
any
recommended
policies.
I
The
board
had
the
opportunity
to
hear
from
stakeholders
at
least
three
times
at
the
committee
meeting,
when
the
policy
was
on
the
agenda
for
its
first
reading
and
then
when
the
policy
was
on
the
agenda
for
its
second
reading.
Through
this
process,
we
heard
from
a
variety
of
stakeholders
whose
input
and
feedback
was
an
integral
part
of
our
review
and
decision-making
process.
Looking
ahead,
this
committee
will
continue
to
review
the
board
policy
manual
and
receive
periodic
updates
on
the
implementation
of
policies
to
ensure
they
were
using
the
Ford
for
board
priorities
to
drive
our
work.
J
You
president
Wilkerson
hello,
everyone
I'm
co-chair
of
the
finance
and
Facilities
Committee,
and
one
thing
I'd
like
to
note
here,
is
that
in
the
end,
none
of
our
goals
will
be
possible
without
maintaining
our
financial
stability.
We
have
to
find
new
ways
to
invest
in
schools
and
make
sure
we're
using
money
wisely.
Our
fourth
and
final
priority
is
maintaining
financial
stability.
We
have
used
our
finance
and
Facilities
Committee
as
an
opportunity
to
educate
the
public
on
various
topics,
including
facilities,
maintenance
to
five-year
budget,
as
well
as
charter
financing.
J
We
have
done
things
like
right
up,
EDP
says:
go
on.
Radio
shows
to
reach
a
wider
audience
which
I
found
to
be
very
interesting
on
the
board's
business
related
to
the
district
finances,
and
we
have
encouraged
parents
and
family
members
and
the
community
as
a
whole
to
have
an
active
voice
in
the
budget
process.
J
We
spent
a
lot
of
time
trying
to
demystify
the
budget
as
well,
which
is
a
part
of
this,
because
a
lot
of
what
we
heard
when
we
were
out
there
at
listening
sessions,
etc,
was
that
people
were
interested
in
learning
more
about
how
the
budget
was
created,
put
together
and
how
it
functioned.
On
this
topic,
we
have
very
good
news
under
dr.
Heights
leadership.
The
district
has
stabilized
at
this
point,
it's
financial
outlook
and
continue
to
invest
in
priorities
to
support
student
learning.
Through
the
work
of
our
committee.
J
The
board
has
monitored
the
investments
being
made
during
the
school
year.
Investments
are
aligned
with
the
district's
action
plan,
as
well
as
board
priorities.
In
order
to
advocate
for
funding,
the
board
and
district
have
publicly
presented
and
discussed
a
five-year
outlook
of
the
district's
finances
and
a
five-year
plan
that
allows
our
funders
to
understand
the
district's
needs
and
investments.
J
Additionally,
our
committee
has
been
a
platform
to
share
information
on
the
district's
budget
process
with
stakeholders,
and
one
thing-
that's
very
important
here
to
note-
is
that
many
of
the
people
that
have
come
to
our
meetings-
parents
in
particular,
are
very
interested
in
learning
more
about
their
school
budget
process
and
we're
working
on
that
as
well.
Our
hope
is
to
continue
to
encourage
stakeholders
to
be
part
of
this
process
and
to
provide
them
with
transparent
information
on
the
district's
finances
and
facilities
management.
Thank
you.
E
This
is
a
moment
of
change
in
the
trajectory
of
public
education
in
Philadelphia
for
the
third
straight
year.
Our
schools
are
improving,
more
students
are
graduating,
more
students
have
strong
reading
skills
where
classrooms
are
modern
learning
spaces
and
more
services
are
being
offered
in
our
schools
to
support
our
students
and
their
families.
We're
beginning
to
see
results.
E
We've
doubled
the
number
of
high
performing
schools,
we
have
50%
fewer,
lower
performing
schools
and,
as
Miss
ahia
Henton
mentioned,
the
district's
financial
outlook
has
been
upgraded
from
negative
to
stable
for
the
first
time
since
1977,
as
this
year
comes
to
a
close
returning
our
attention
to
the
year
ahead.
We
are
ending
this
year,
energized
and
excited
about
what
is
ahead.
We
believe
deeply
in
what's
happening
in
Philadelphia's,
public
education
and
we
hope
you'll
work
with
us
to
change
the
narrative
about
public
schools.
E
We
also
hope
you'll
spread
the
word
about
our
work
and
let
the
Philadelphia
communities
who
you
represent
know
that
they
have
access
to
the
decision-making
of
public
education
will
be
holding
hearings
on
June
6
to
collect
input
into
our
work
and
our
priorities
for
the
coming
year.
But
before
I
turn
this
over
to
dr.
heit,
we
must
raise
one
critical
issue:
that's
scheduled
to
come
before
council
on
june
3rd.
It
will
have
a
significant
impact
on
this
trajectory
of
past
I'm,
going
to
ask
Miss
aheading
to
comment
briefly
on
that
Thank.
J
You
president
Wilkerson
councilmembers
you're,
scheduled
to
hearing
on
two
bills
for
June
3rd
bill
number
one:
nine
zero,
three
one:
seven
to
increase
the
amount
of
the
homestead
exemption
and
bill
number
one:
nine
zero,
three,
eight
to
utilize
annual
revenue
neutral
tax
rates.
We
must
respectfully
submit
to
you
that,
if
passed,
these
bills
would
have
significant
impacts
on
the
district
finances
combined,
they
would
cost
nearly
40
million
in
fiscal
year
twenty
and
nearly
five
hundred
million
over
the
life
of
the
five-year
plan.
J
If
adopted,
we
will
face
a
deficit
of
over
50
million
in
fiscal
year
21,
and
we
would
be
forced
to
come
to
you
this
time
next
year
in
a
very
different
finance,
with
a
very
different
financial
picture.
With
the
reality
of
having
to
make
heartbreaking
cuts,
we
intend
to
speak
loudly
about
the
infant
or
speak
out
loudly
about
the
impacts
these
bills
would
have
on
our
schools
and
ask
in
the
spirit
of
the
partnership
that
brings
us
together
today
that
they
not
be
passed.
Thank
you
and.
E
K
I
know
that
the
district
appeared
before
council
just
last
week,
so
I
plan
to
keep
my
comments
brief,
but
I
did
want
to
reiterate
our
appreciation
for
all
of
the
individuals
gathered
here
today
who
have
worked
together
over
the
year
to
improve
academic
outcomes
for
our
students.
This
work
can't
be
conducted
in
silos
or
in
isolation,
so
we
value
the
spirit
of
community
and
the
partnerships
that
have
been
formed
to
help
us
better
serve
our
students.
As
I
mentioned
last
week,
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
is
making
steady
progress.
K
We
have
set
clear
intentional
goals
for
staff
and
students.
We've
made
investments
in
high
priority
areas
to
support
these
goals,
and
now
we
are
seeing
positive
outcomes
thanks
to
everyone's
efforts.
We
know
that
reading
is
foundational
for
all
learning.
So,
as
a
result
of
our
focus
on
early
literacy,
more
eight
year,
old
students
are
reading
on
or
above
grade
level
and
a
three
year.
Growth
averages
for
literacy
and
math
are
outpacing.
The
state
averages
across
nearly
all
tested
grade
levels.
K
Our
kindergarten
through
third
grade
teachers
have
been
trained
on
best
practices
for
early
instruction,
and
our
k3
classrooms
have
leveled
libraries
with
the
reader
materials
that
are
appropriate
for
students,
reading
levels
and
interests.
We
look
forward
to
expanding
this
model
to
grades
four
and
five
to
ensure
our
students
are
supported
as
they
move
throughout
elementary
school.
We've
also
expanded
supports
in
our
high
schools
so
that
students
are
better
prepared
for
college
and
career
we've,
provided
more
access
to
AP
courses
and
dual
enrollment
opportunities,
expanded
CTE
programs
and
restored
teachers
and
support
staff.
K
A
graduation
rate
has
jumped
five
percentage
points
in
four
years
and
as
we
gear
up
for
graduation
season
this
year,
we
look
forward
to
cheering
on
even
more
of
our
students
as
they
head
on
to
the
next
exciting
phase
of
their
life.
I
would
be
remiss
if
I
didn't
also
mention
the
outstanding
teachers.
Principals
counselors
and
support
staff
that
we
have
in
our
schools
who
greatly
contribute
to
this
progress.
K
Earlier
this
week,
I
had
the
opportunity
to
attend
our
annual
Lynn
back
foundation
award
ceremony
where
we
honored
60
teachers
from
schools
all
over
the
district
for
their
work
and
commitment
to
our
children.
We
know
the
accomplishments
we
are
celebrating
would
not
be
possible
if
we
didn't
have
the
right
individuals
in
front
of
our
children
day
in
and
day
out.
So
as
we
reflect
on
this
past
year,
we
take
a
moment
to
appreciate
all
of
our
achievements,
but
it's
important
to
also
recognize
that
there's
more
work
to
be
done.
K
We
know
that
a
quality
education
requires
focus
and
prioritization
by
all
of
us
here
today.
Our
city
benefits
most
when
our
students
are
educated
and
equipped
to
become
the
workers,
entrepreneurs
and
leaders.
We
know
they
can
be
so
it's
incumbent
upon
us
as
a
district,
with
your
help
to
ensure
all
students
have
access
to
a
great
school
close
to
where
they
live.
Thank
you
for
your
work
and
your
dedication
to
our
students
and
we
look
forward
to
achieve
an
even
greater
successes
in
the
future.
A
C
E
What
you're
asking
are
our
top
three
achievements?
I
think
I
think
I'm
really
proud
of
the
fact
that
we've
settled
on
priorities
as
a
group
and
I
think
their
priorities
that,
if
we
can
remain
focused
around
them,
will
really
move
quality
education
in
Philadelphia.
We
and
there's
been
consensus
by
the
group
around
them.
I
think
work.
I
know
we're
committed
to
trying
to
operate
a
system
of
quality
education.
That's
probably
one
of
our
greatest
challenges.
E
We
inherited
a
district
that
operates
more
than
80
charter
schools
under
a
charter
school
law
that
that
is
challenging
and
we've
remained
focused
on
trying
to
drive
quality.
Notwithstanding
the
problems
with
the
law,
I
think
we,
as
a
group
have
learned
how
to
we
spend
a
lot
of
time
visiting
schools
throughout
the
city,
and
we
see
a
lot.
E
We
hear
a
lot
and
I
think
we've
done
an
effective
job
at
trying
to
distill
those
into
appropriate
issues
before
the
board
and
so
we're
looking
at
the
policy
around
things
like
leveling
we're
trying
to
figure
out
how
you
take
what
we
learn
in
the
schools
and
and
translate
it
into
budget
or
fiscal
concerns
and
I
think
we've
done
a
good
job
as
a
group
doing
that
I
think
we've
also
made
an
enormous
commitment
to
public
engagement.
We
invite
the
public
to
our
meetings.
E
At
our
last
meeting,
we
had
over
86
people
sign
up
to
speak,
and
so
our
executive
session
started
at
noon
and
our
public,
our
last
public
session,
didn't
end
until
around
10:30
p.m.
I
think
the
board
has
been
traveling
throughout
the
city,
looking
for
opportunities
to
engage
with
the
public
and
so
rebuilding
the
relationship
with
the
broader
community.
E
Around
public
education
has
been
a
major
initiative
of
the
board
and
and
I
think
we
hear
a
different
kind
of
conversation:
people
not
caring
just
about
their
child
and
their
school,
but
caring
about
the
issue
of
public
education
or
at
large
and
so
on.
I'm,
proud
of
tremendously
proud
of
all
those
accomplishments
of
the
board.
More
so.
E
From
my
perspective,
the
biggest
challenge
is
trying
to
rationalize
the
delivery
system
of
public
education
that
that
we
don't
have
adequate,
but
that
trying
to
rationalize
what's
going
on,
and
so
we
have
to
I
think
pay
attention
to
right-sizing
public
education.
With
the
advent
of
so
many
charter
schools,
we
operate
probably
too
many
schools
with
less
than
full
capacity
and
I
think
at
the
end
of
the
day,
the
children
are
cheated.
E
We
have
high
schools
with
only
a
few
hundred
kids
in
them,
and
one
of
the
things
I've
learned
is
that
you
can't
offer
a
robust
public
education
when
you
have
so
few
students
and
so
I
know.
Within
the
last
year,
we've
had
conversations
with
both
the
administration
and
City
Council
members
around
around
trying
to
make
a
better
sense
of
the
facilities.
We
have
the
catchment
areas,
the
program
programs
that
were
offering
in
schools
so
that
we
can
try
to
rationalize.
What's
going
on
and
I
know,
dr.
E
high
can
speak
more
about
a
process
that
the
district's
going
to
be
going
through.
To
take
a
look
at.
You
know
the
use
of
facilities,
the
programming
that
we're
offering
in
the
catchment
areas
with
respect
to
Mb
WBE.
The
board
is
going
to
be
receiving
new
policy
so
that
we
can
become
more
aggressive
around
our
MBE
WBE
program.
We
have
some
old
project,
labor
agreements
that
we
need
to
revisit
that
we
think
are
impediments
to
driving
more
aggressive
participation.
We
think
that
one
of
the
things
that
dr.
E
Hyde
has
spent
a
lot
of
time
focusing
on
is
expanding
student
opportunities
through
the
work
that
we
do
both
in
terms
of
maintaining
our
properties,
but
also
in
our
contracting,
and
so
those
are.
You
know,
while
we're
doing
some
new
work
and
being
more
aggressive,
I
think
with
a
new
board
policy
that,
hopefully
will
receive
in
the
next
month
or
so
we'll
be
able
to
chart
an
even
more
aggressive
course
around
minority
participation
and
identifying
opportunities
for
our
students.
E
G
K
Yes,
next
week
and
I
think
I
alluded
to
this.
While
we
were
in
budget
hearing
with
City
Council
last
week,
we
are
beginning
a
comprehensive
analysis
of
our
facilities
and
we
want
to
end
our
enrollment
and
looking
at
we're
going
to
eventually
look
at
every
every
area
of
the
city.
We're
gonna
tear
this
to
start
in
three
areas.
First,
and
primarily,
what
we're
trying
to
achieve
is
a
practice
of
forward
thinking
and
forward
thinking
based
on
shifts
and
populations
and
making
sure
that
we
have
the
adequate
resources
to
provide
those
children
with
the
quality.
K
Education
is
not
just
talking
about
facility
improvements,
but
it's
also
talking
about
school,
designs
and
programs,
so
that
those
programs
are
responsive
to
the
types
of
things
that
our
young
people
and
their
families
are
pursuing
and
want
to
pursue.
And
the
third
thing
is:
we
also
want
to
take
advantage
of
the
many
public
assets
across
the
city
as
well.
So
we
we
will
be
doing
this
in
conjunction
with
the
city,
planning,
commission
and
looking
at
not
just
the
school
assets,
but
the
city
assets
as
well.
M
Recently
the
city
passed
legislation
about
a
year
and
a
half
ago
regarding
best
value
to
use
a
city
in
a
better
way
as
an
economic
development
entity
and
reference
to
addressing
poverty
in
our
city.
That,
as
a
concern,
that's
been
going
on,
and
we
all
know
the
26%
statistic.
So
my
question
is
for
you
and
I
asked
this
question.
Dr.
heit
asked
this
to
you
and
what
means
are
we
using
the
school
district
from
a
procurement
perspective
as
an
economic
development
tool
to
grow
businesses
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
to
address
poverty?
I.
E
Don't
I
don't
think
we
I
know,
we
don't
have
a
strategy
for
doing
that.
I
think
that
we
have
been
much
more
intentional
around
creating
economic
opportunities.
So,
for
example,
we
have
held
at
least
two
job
fairs
with
the
Housing
Authority,
creating
opportunities
for
those
employees
for
those
residents.
E
You
know
and
I,
as
I
mentioned,
we're
working
by
providing
opportunities
for
our
kids.
I
cannot
think,
though,
of
a
program
that
we
have
that
looks
at
developing
economic
opportunities
and
that's
something
that
we
can
take
a
look
at
because
we
are
a
large
institution
and
can,
if
we're
thoughtful
about
it,
can
probably
create
some
programming
that
would
accomplish
those
goals.
Are
you.
E
K
To
the
extent
councilman
Greenwood
to
be
to
the
extent
we're
trying
to
expand
the
opportunities
with
small
businesses,
and
we
actually,
in
addition
to
what
the
board
president
described,
we're,
also
providing
sessions
for
small
businesses
to
both
become
certified
and
to
learn
our
process
in
order
to
bid
as
both
primaries
and
subs
on
on
many
of
the
contracts
RFPs
that
we
have,
but
to
the
to
the
to
your
first
question
directly
other
than
expanding
the
opportunities
and
that's
why
we're
rewriting
the
procurement
policy?
We
do
not.
K
M
K
I
mean
so
the
we
have
a
policy
that
is
still
coming
through
the
policy
committee
meeting
I
mean
through
the
policy
committee
I
think
that's
gonna
supposed
to
come
at
the
next
policy
committee
meeting,
so
the
it's
gonna.
The
procurement
policy
is
gonna,
be
approved
at
the
next
committee
meeting
and
then
it
goes
in
front
of
the
full
board
and
then
after
that's
done,
we
could
then
begin
a
process
of
looking
at.
M
My
last
question-
and
this
is
for
mr.
Wilkerson
as
well-
I-
asked
us
to
dr.
heit
when
they
were
here
in
council.
How
do
we
better
message
to
the
parents
and
caregivers
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
regarding,
what's
going
on
in
our
schools?
I
think
one
of
the
challenges
and
I
stated
before
is
that
there
soon
to
be
improvements
after
coming
through
K
through
8,
but
I.
Don't
get
the
sense
that
parents
and
caregivers
have
that
belief
system
in
the
school
district
that
improvements
are
being
made.
We've
seen
some
of
the
recent
polling.
M
That's
evidence
of
that
I
think
in
people's
individual
schools
in
their
communities.
Some
have
a
better
working
relationships.
They
have
a
better
understanding.
But
when
you
look
at
citywide,
there's
a
general
general
perception
that
schools
are
getting
worse,
and
so
how
do
you
provide
that
information
at
the
account
information?
We're
going
to
some
improvement
that
you're
making.
E
One
of
the
things
that
that
dr.
Hyde
has
done
is
is
REE
staff.
Our
communication
office
I
think
we
are
trying
to
use
more
more
people
within
the
district
people
in
our
schools,
all
school
employees,
to
tell
the
story
about.
What's
going
on
we're
also
trying
to
be
more
consistent
in
the
messaging
you
know.
Sometimes
the
message
can
be
so
complicated.
Nobody
hears
it
and
so
we're
trying
to
to
refine
our
message.
But
it's
going
to
take
time.
We're
gonna
have
to
you
know
and
I.
E
Think
that's
part
of
the
commitment
that
the
board
has
made
is
to
be
out
there
in
communities
talking
with
small
groups
about
what's
going
on
in
public
education,
because
there
really
is
a
transformation
going
on
when
you
look
at
what's
happening
with
our
literacy
program,
for
example,
we're
really
beginning
to
see
real
results
and
so
I
think
it's
going
to
be
a
process.
It'll
take
time.
It'll
take
you
know
a
consistent
message
in
order
for
people
to
hear.
I
also
think
that
you
know
folk
aren't
going
to
be
looking
at
a
lot
of
test
scores.
E
I
think
there
are
other
ways
that
we
can
evidence,
change
and
I
think
we're
focusing
more
on
the
quality
of
our
buildings.
You
know
we're
redoing
classrooms.
I.
Think
people
interpret
that
as
progress
where
they
may
not
interpret.
You
know
we
have
fewer.
You
know
schools
in
the
intervene
category
or
watch
category.
They
may
see
progress
more
clearly,
just
by
the
way
we
maintain
our
properties.
E
The
board
has
authorized
the
hiring
of
additional
cleaners
for
the
school
so
that
we
can
have
our
properties
looking
better
we're
working
on
expanding
playground,
opportunity
to
quality
playground,
opportunities,
I
think.
To
some
extent
it's
going
to
be
those
kinds
of
visual
changes.
That'll
help
people
understand
that
the
district
is
really
changing
if
they
did
a
little
deeper,
though
I
think
they'd
be
excited
by
what's
going
on
with
early
early
literacy,
I
know
we're
working
particularly.
E
B
You,
mr.
president,
I
just
want
to
put
on
the
record
that
I
remember
our
mayor
sitting
on
this
side
of
the
dusts
taken
every
tough
tax
vote
for
this
school
district,
complaining
that
we
did
not
have
control
and
it's
good
to
see
now
that
you're
on
that
side
of
the
desk
taking
responsibility
for
it.
So
it's
good
to
see
you
here
today.
My
question
today
is
to
I
have
to
one.
B
So
if
we
do
more
of
that,
we
have
a
problem
getting
skilled
labor
at
PGW
philippi
gas,
which
we
have
a
problem,
getting
skilled
labor
in
the
streets
Department.
If
we
open
that
pipeline
through
our
CTE
education
and
send
them
directly
into
these
opportunities,
I
think
we
do
more
for
creating
economic
development.
I
can't
help
when
budget
Tom
comes
seeing
all
of
the
public
school
graduates
that
went
to
public
school
are
now
in
the
water
department.
So
these
are
not
just
small
jobs.
B
These
are
life-changing
little
income
jobs
that
I
want
you
to
hurry
up
and
continue
those
plugins.
If
you
could
speak
to
that
strategy,
that
would
be
helpful
on
the
record,
because
I
know
my
president
doesn't
play
long-winded
speeches.
I'm
gonna
get
this
one
in
I
want
to
recognize.
Also
the
fact
that
these
chambers
are
packed
with
young
people
that
came
out
today
to
see
us
do
our
business
from
Global
Leadership,
Academy.
B
And
I
just
want
to
put
on
the
record
how
well
how
well
they
behaved
listening
to
all
of
the
commentary.
That
goes
to
show
that
that
public
education
is
paying
off
as
they're
good
citizens
here
today,
and
they
have
their
issue
that
they're
going
to
want
to
talk
about
and
make
sure
that
everybody
is
aware
that
they
want
to
matriculate
into
a
good
high
school
and
I
want
to
put
that.
I
want
to
put
that
on
a
record.
B
Some
up
some
up
my
father
I
know
we're
not
going
to
do
that
today.
I
realized
we're
not
going
to
solve
that
today,
but
I
wanted
to
learn
to
record
today.
The
other
thing
that
I
have
is
the
infrastructure
that
my
president
and
fought
for
about
a
for
now:
five
billion
dollar
capital
improvement.
How
do
we?
How
do
we
take
that
on
in
the
coming
year?
Thank
You?
Mr.
president,
thank
you.
School
leadership,
yeah.
K
So
I'll
start
with
Korean
Technical
educational
opportunities,
and
you
were
talking
about
the
the
young
people
who
are
in
our
schools
that
are
now
employees
of
the
city's
fleet
management
and
learning
how
to
do
that.
Work.
We've
also
begun
an
additional
apprenticeship
program
so
that
young
people
actually
can
move
into
many
of
the
maintenance
roles
that
exist
in
the
skilled,
labor
maintenance
roles
that
exists
in
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia.
K
Those
young
people
are
also
coming
out
of
our
schools,
but
it's
also
why
Councilman
we've
expanded
the
number
of
Career
and
Technical
educational
programs
in
our
schools,
and
and
now
we
have
over
6,000
children
that
are
having
those
types
of
experiences.
We
have
to
continue
to
coordinate
with
other
labor
partners
to
ensure
that
it's
not
just
fleet
management,
but
it's
the
other
individuals
who
are
also
looking
for
employees
and
understanding
what
those
skills
are.
K
So
we
can
begin
training
our
young
people
on
those
skills
that
then
becomes
a
really
important
part,
and
so
we
are,
we
are
doing
the
work
to
actually
determine
what
that
is
and
we're
working
with
the
mayor's
office
of
education.
We
have
now
this
position
called
career
connectedness
and
that
is
to
match
young
people
with
experiences
like
that
of
the
fleet
managers.
K
So
that's
what
we're
doing
on
that
side
on
the
ESCO
saw
the
we
have
now
three
schools
that
served
as
a
pilot
for
that
program.
Projects
are
winding
down
because
they're
almost
complete
those
who
are
at
three
high
schools.
We
have
another
I,
want
to
say
20
schools
that
will
then
we're
gonna
start
the
ESCO
work
next
year
or
on
an
ongoing
basis,
and
now
we've
we've
done.
K
We've
already
acquired
a
group
that
is
going
to
lead
that
work
for
us,
but
we're
working
in
conjunction
with
the
Energy
Authority
and
we're
excited
about
the
opportunity
to
get
that
project
moving
in
more
schools,
because
then
we
could
utilize
those
savings
to
upgrade
many
of
many
of
the
needed
upgrades
that
are
happen
in
schools,
particularly
around
lights,
lighting,
HVAC,
roofing,
those
types
of
things,
and
so
we're
very
excited
that
we
are
expanding
that
to
another
twenty
schools
this
year
and
want
to
build
that
out.
Even
more.
Thank.
E
Councilwoman
Blackwell
really
developed
what
is
a
prototype
for
a
lot
of
the
work
and
I
just
wanted
to
make
sure
that
we
acknowledge
that,
through
her,
her
collaboration,
bringing
pen
to
the
table
in
a
meaningful
way,
it
really
provided
or
helped
create
a
roadmap
for
what
we
need
to
be
doing
with
other
major
major
industries
in
the
city,
and
so
I
just
wanted
to
recognize
what
was
groundbreaking
work
when
the
Councilwoman
developed
it
and
and
that
we
really
do.
Take
that
lesson
to
heart
and
see
other
opportunities
for
similar
work.
A
N
N
Today,
it's
a
different
world
and
tomorrow
that's
gonna
change.
Even
faster
I
mean
today
it's
Amazon,
Google
and
Apple,
and
tomorrow
it's
gonna
go
at
a
lightning
speed
and
my
concern
is
that
we
prepare
our
students
for
that
economy,
so
whatever
you
could
do
to
support
that
I
think
this
body
was
unanimous.
We
want
to
see
that
happen,
so
thank
you
very
much
for
your
efforts.
Thank
you.
A
Appears
to
be
no
additional
question
from
members
of
the
committee.
That
concludes
our
public
meeting
of
the
Council
of
the
Board
of
Education
of
the
mayor,
and
then
we
were
now
going
to
our
public
hearing
where
we
will
hear
testimony
from
members
of
the
public.
Just
a
man.
Thank
you
and
our
first
witnesses
to
testify.
O
A
O
Gla
has
continually
turned
our
well-rounded
well-read
and
well-prepared
scholars
through
GLA
I
have
learned
how
to
do
ekam,
academic
and
field
research,
with
the
best
of
them.
I
have
had
the
opportunity
to
study
and
walk
in
the
footsteps
of
my
great
ancestors,
such
as
Martin
Luther,
King,
jr.,
Harriet,
Tubman
and
soon-to-be
Marcus
Garvey,
as
we
leave
for
Jamaica
on
Sunday
and
in
a
global
economy.
Global
leaders
matter
and
no
and
no
school
helps
to
produce
them
like
GLA
support.
Gla
is
high
school.
A
P
L
We
are
not
just
a
school,
we
are
a
family.
We
need
this
high
school
to
keep
the
to
keep
the
youth
encouraged.
This
school
has
to
open
it's
too
important.
Put
yourself
in
our
shoes.
We
are
trying
our
best.
We
are
trying
to
be
our
best
selves.
You
are
stopping
us
by
not
giving
us
the
ceiling
high
school
high
school
will
get.
Was
myself
included,
myself
included
a
way
to
stay
out
of
trouble
and
to
stay
smarter,
and
we
are
really
ready
to
have
this
high
school.
Q
Afternoon,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
my
name
is
Carla
Harrison
I
am
the
proud
parent
of
two
previous
graduates
of
Global
Leadership
Academy,
Charter
School,
as
well
as
a
current
sixth
grader
at
Global,
Leadership
Academy,
Charter,
School
I
am
coming
to
implore.
You
pretty
much
almost
beg
you
to
consider
them
for
a
high
school.
My
oldest
son,
who
was
22
years
old,
was
a
graduate
of
global
and
he
actually
had
pervasive
developmental
disorder
that
falls
under
the
umbrella
of
autism,
which
was
discovered
by
the
Global
Leadership
Academy
family.
Q
Through
that
time
they
actually
helped
mold
my
son
and
help
him
be
the
successful
young
man
who
works
at
FedEx
to
this
day
and
I
also
employee.
Thank
you.
I
also
am
saying
because
they
did
not
have
a
high
school
for
global.
We
had
to
step
out
of
the
city,
but
a
home
in
the
county,
because
there
wasn't,
unfortunately,
a
high
school
that
was
equipped
for
our
current
16
year
old
son.
We
do
not
when
our
daughter
to
be
forced
to
go
to
a
high
school
in
the
county.
Q
We
want
her
to
be
a
product.
A
high
school
graduate
of
Global
Leadership
Academy
Charter
School,
this
school
has
produced
many
excellent
young
people,
many
excellent
adults,
many
excellent
entrepreneurs,
including
my
sixth-grade
daughter.
You
cannot
find
such
an
awesome
education
elsewhere
than
Global
Leadership
Academy.
Q
You
have
loving
teachers,
loving,
CEO,
two
loving
principals,
as
well
as
parents
who
support
it
in
and
out.
We
are
again
asking
you
to
please
support
them
and
if
you
have
any
question
Castleman
Councilwoman
Blackwell.
Thank
you
in
advance
for
your
support.
I
want
to
publicly
tell
you
that.
Thank
you.
If
you
ever
have
any
questions
or
concerns
again,
my
name
is
Carla.
Harrison
I
will
gladly
give
you.
My
phone
number
give
you
my
email
address,
give
you
anything
that
you
need,
but
please
grant
them
this
high
school.
A
M
A
P
Good
afternoon,
I
am
dr.
Naomi
Johnson,
Booker
longtime
educator
in
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
I
was
in
this
district
over
30
years
and,
as
you
see,
these
are
my
students
here.
My
scholars
who
are
here
because
they
want
this
high
school,
my
parents
who
are
here
because
they
want
a
high
school
and
the
schools
that
they
would
be
able
to
go
to
are
not
available
to
them.
So
that's
why
I
brought
them
today,
so
you
can
see
who
they
are.
Who
am
I.
P
I
am
a
person
who
has
turned
around
several
schools
in
this
city,
I
turned
around
Clymer
Elementary
in
North,
Philadelphia
I
turned
around
raising
horizons
quest
because
that
was
an
independent
charter
school
that
is
now
global.
Leadership
Academy
I
turned
around
huy
school,
which
was
given
to
me
two
years
ago
with
my
leadership
there.
P
So
today,
13
years
later,
in
the
charter,
school
I
have
turned
a
school
into
a
flagship
school
as
well
as
now
another
Philadelphia
failing
public
school,
the
huy
school
and
when
I
did
that
two
years
ago,
I
put
in
also
for
a
high
school
before
and
I
was
told
that,
if
I
take
the
Yui
turn
that
around
that
in
a
couple
of
years,
come
back
and
we'll
expand
your
high
school.
That's
a
promise
to
me
and
I'm.
A
member
of
the
district
I
am
person
from
inside
working
with
our
children
charter.
Schools
are
public
schools.
P
We
keeps
talking
about
Philadelphia
public
schools,
but
we
don't
say
charter
schools.
We
are
Philadelphia
public
schools.
Our
money
is
funded
from
the
public.
So
please
include
that
when
you
talk
about
charter
schools,
our
kids,
our
younger
people
travel
all
around
the
world
when
they
leave
us.
They
are
world
travelers
because
we
want
to
take
them
out
of
their
ten
block
radius
and
let
them
see
the
world.
Our
theme
is
preparing
future
leaders
of
the
world.
We
can't
do
that
unless
we
show
them
the
world
Sunday
they're,
going
to
Jamaica
this
year.
P
They
have
gone
to
Canada,
they
have
gone
to
DC,
they
have
studied
Philadelphia.
They,
my
kindergarten
through
2nd
graders,
go
downtown
and
see
the
Liberty
Bell
and
they
study
China
and
because
they
studies
China,
they
go
downtown
and
have
lunch
in
Chinatown
because
you
want
to
bring
cultures
together.
P
They
can't
do
that
unless
there's
a
place
that
will
help
them
do
that
I,
don't
know
whether
you
and
I'm
sure
you
are
aware
that
on
an
off-ramp
education,
where
children
go
from
a
K
to
5
and
then
from
five
to
eight
and
every
time
they
do
that,
there's
a
change
in
interruption
in
their
education.
What
my
parents
want
is
a
K
to
12.
We
want
to
take
our
children
that
we've
been
with
from
kindergarten
through
eighth
grade.
Take
them
to
12th
grade
give
us
those
children
I'm
only
asking
for
125
children
each
year.
P
P
I
had
a
forum
with
some
of
my
high
school
and
college
bound
children
now
in
December,
and
that's
what
they
talked
about.
They
talked
about.
They
wish
there
was
a
gla
high
school
because
they
would
have
stayed
there.
I'm
I'm
very
passionate
about
what
I'm
doing
I'm
sitting
in
a
room
with
over
500
children.
Do
you
hear
them?
Do
you
see
what
we
do?
This
is
what
we
do.
P
They
are
quiet,
they
are
respectful
and
I
can
take
them
anywhere
and
I'm
going
to
tell
you
something:
I
take
them
anywhere
and
people
think
you
know
what
they
think.
Do
you
think
they
are
private
school?
That's
what
they
think,
and
you
know
what
they
aren't.
They
are
a
Philadelphia
charter
school
that
is
a
public
school.
P
P
That's
the
word
we
use
to
get
quiet.
Thank
you.
Gla
has
earned
this
high
school
I
promised
you
I.
Did
you
a
favor
I
turned
a
school
around.
The
community
says
that
we're
not
only
changing
a
school
were
changing.
A
community
I
went
to
Huy
as
a
child.
I
know
what
that
neighborhood
was
I,
know
what
it
was
two
years
ago,
but
going
there
going
there
and
turning
it
around,
and
you
know
what
they
made:
91%
academic
growth
this
year,
so
I'm
begging
you
I'm,
employing
you
to
vote
on
us
on
May
30th.
P
We
have
a
school
down
that
we
are
waiting.
The
landlord
is
waiting
for
us
to
say
go,
please
please
don't
hold
my
children
back.
Let
them
be
part
of
the
future
they're,
the
ones
who
are
going
to
take
over
Philadelphia
when
they
grow
up
they're,
the
ones
that
are
going
to
sit
in
your
seats
in
city
council
seats.
Let's
help
them
get
there
and
you
want
to
know
something
else.
I
was
told
two
days
before
I
spoke
on
the
16th
that
you
wanted
to
meet
a
takeover
one
of
your
schools.
P
P
I
want
Global,
Leadership,
Academy,
High
School,
my
parents,
to
my
children,
do
and
remember:
charter
schools
are
Philadelphia
public
schools
and
give
parents
who
don't
have
a
choice,
a
choice
and
that's
important,
and
if
we
say
that
they
won't
do
that,
then
you're
saying
that
black
and
brown
parents
and
children
don't
have
a
choice.
Thank
you.
G
A
C
A
C
Q
R
Thank
you,
council
president
Clark
I'm
gonna
be
brief,
because
everybody
here
has
heard
everything
I've
said
before,
but
that's
okay,
I
wanted
to
say
thank
you
to
you
and
thank
you
to
the
mayor
again,
because
now
we
have
local
control,
I'm
co-founder
of
the
Alliance
for
Philadelphia
public
schools
for
a
grassroots
organization.
We
have
a
little
bit
of
a
different
message
because
we
know
that
this
board,
we
you
know
we
we
serve
as
in
an
adversarial
position.
R
We
like
to
tell
the
board
what
we
think
what
we
think
the
board
should
do,
but
you
know
when
it
comes
to
funding
and
oversight,
we're
we're
really.
On
the
same
page,
we've
seen
how
much
work
this
board
has
put
in,
because
I
run
into
them
all
the
time.
Now
we
were
at
a
meeting
in
Harrisburg
with
the
Charter
appeal
board.
We
really
cannot
afford
charter
expansion.
R
Whether
it's
appointed
or
elected,
give
that
power
back
to
Harrisburg.
It's
like
we're
taking
one
step
forward
and
three
steps
back.
So
you
know,
as
as
a
member
of
apps
I
have
to
say
we
are.
We
looked
at
the
history
of
charter
schools.
We
analyzed
the
charters.
We
supported
the
board
when
the
board
voted
no
on
three
clearly
inadequate
charter
applications
that
came
up
in
February,
we're
hoping
that
they're
going
to
maintain
that
position,
because
two
of
them
have
reapplied,
but
they
are
clearly
inadequate
when
a
school
says
we
deserve
to
have
a
high
school.
R
To
me.
That
means
one
public
school
should
have
less
I,
do
not
accept
charters
as
public
schools,
they're,
publicly
funded,
privately
operated
and,
as
I
said,
when
we
go
to
these
hearings,
we
see
where
that
wall
comes
down.
When
the
board
can
look
at
certain
things,
and
then,
when
you
get
past
that
wall
into
mostly
the
finances
they
can't
look
at
what's
going
on,
we
can't
continue
to
participate
in
a
system
like
that.
R
We
can't
afford
a
system
where
one
charter
school
CEO,
who
runs
one
school,
makes
three
hundred
and
thirty
thousand
dollars
a
year
in
salary
and
compensation.
There's
no
reason
for
that,
but
this
board
doesn't
control
that
the
board
of
the
charter
school
controls
that
I
figured
out
one
time
there
was
one
charter
seat.
You
know
who
makes
two
hundred
twenty
six
thousand
dollars
a
year
to
run.
Two
schools
and
I
figured
out
that
if
things
were
fair
and
prorated,
dr.
heit
would
make
twenty
six
million
dollars
a
year.
R
R
So
if
you
look
at
a
charter
CEO
that
makes
her
in
a
$30,000
a
year,
I
haven't
figured
that
out.
Yet
maybe
80
million
I
don't
know,
but
that's
really
not
what
we
can
afford
to
do
if
the
board
is
going
to
take
control,
and
the
mayor
supports
that
and
council
president
supports
that
and
council
supports
it.
We
can't
keep
expanding
a
system
that
it's
not
to
systems
I.
Think
people
think
there's,
like
you
know
the
district
schools
in
the
charter
schools.
R
Each
charter
school
is
like
its
own
School
District
as
a
CEO
and
a
CFO
and
a
CEO.
You
know-
and
many
reports
have
been
done
by
the
former
city
controller
by
the
state
attorney
general
of
how
much
money
goes
into
administration
in
charter
schools
and
it's
way
more
than
in
district
school.
So
I
don't
accept
that
charter
schools
just
because
they
take
public
money
or
public
schools
are
privately
operated
and
they
do
not
have
the
same
oversight
so
just
want
to
support
City
Council.