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From YouTube: Finance Committee Discussion of Bill No. 161061 6-5-2017
Description
From the hearing of Philadelphia City Council's Committee on Finance held Monday, June 5, 2017:
Testimony on Ordinance No. 161061A
Authorizing City Officials to File Articles of Incorporation to establish a Non-Profit Corporation that shall be called The Philadelphia School Teacher's Reimbursement Fund, Inc., for the purpose of reimbursing personal money spent by teachers of the Philadelphia School District for the purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment needed for their classrooms.
B
Thank
you
very
much
we're
going
to
ask
the
chief
Education
Officer
to
hold
up
a
minute
because
we
have
the
the
president
of
the
retired
teachers
association
school
district.
Who
has
to
leave
so
would
you
come
forward
and
then
we'll
have
ODIs
happening
chief
Education
Officer,
the
mayor's
office
of
Education,
to
testify.
C
My
name
is
Emily
Taylor
and
I'm,
a
retired
educator,
having
served
as
a
teacher
and
teacher
Support
Specialist
for
art
education
for
39
years
with
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
during
my
career
have
spent
thousands
of
dollars
for
supplies
to
support
my
art
program.
I
was
provided
a
budget
to
start
and
build
a
program
at
the
two
schools
of
my
employment.
C
But
despite
having
a
budget,
I
did
spend
my
own
money
to
purchase
resources
and
supplies
that
I
would
otherwise
not
have
in
my
classroom
when
I
started
my
position
as
teacher
support
specialist
for
art
education,
I
became
increasingly
aware
of
the
need
for
monies
for
supplies,
as
schools
suffered
from
reduced
funding,
schools
hired
art
teachers
with
little
to
no
funding
for
their
programs.
As
schools
closed
our
the
art
department
quickly,
the
art
department
quickly
redistributed
art
supplies
to
be
given
to
schools
in
need.
C
Teachers
have
conducted
methods
to
raise
funds
such
as
artists,
art
programs
and
exhibitions,
auctions
and
community
fundraisers
to
supplement
their
school
budgets.
Despite
these
efforts,
teachers
continue
to
spend
their
own
money
for
materials.
They
would
quickly
spend
the
$100
allotment
provided
by
the
district
which
is
available
to
every
teacher.
This
is
not
the
way
to
support
our
students
and
programs
in
our
communities.
There
is
a
need
for
equal
opportunities
for
teachers
and
schools
to
receive
reimbursement
for
purchase
materials
outside
of
the
school
allotment.
C
There
is
a
need
for
a
vehicle
of
financial
support
that
directly
connects
with
the
teachers.
It
is
my
hope
that
the
proposed
teacher
allotment
reimbursement
bill
is
passed
to
provide
such
an
opportunity
because
our
students
and
teachers
deserve
it.
I
would
like
to
thank
councilman
David
o
for
introducing
this
bill
and
I
want
to
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
on
behalf
of
bill.
161
0,
6,
1
and
I
asked
City
Council's
consideration
towards
the
passing
of
this
bill.
Thank
You.
E
Afternoon
good
afternoon,
thank
you
for
your
participation
and
for
paying
attention
to
an
issue
that
all
of
us
here
on
city
council
care
about
when
it
comes
to
finding
innovative
ways
to
figure
out
how
we
can
deliver
what
all
of
our
young
people
and
children
deserve.
Arts
education.
We
unless
add
I,
feel
compelled
to
ask.
Are
you
aware
of
of
another
is
called
the
fund
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
that
which
currently
exists
and
my
limited
understanding
of
it
allows
for
the
support
for
support
services
and
programs
within
the
school
district.
C
Actually
I
became
more
aware
of
it
just
through
this
process
and
learning
what
is
available
through
the
introduction
of
the
reimbursement
field,
a
bill
by
compliment
Oh.
But,
as
a
teacher,
many
of
us
are
not
aware
of
programs
such
as
that,
especially
if
it
goes
directly
to
the
school
and
the
school
gets
reimbursement
for
some
specific
need
that
we
may
not
be
aware
of
it,
as
a
teacher
has
never
had
the
opportunity
to
get
any
kind
of
reimbursement
or
other.
E
E
B
F
Thank
you
good
afternoon.
My
name
is
Otis
Hackney
and
I'm.
The
chief
Education
Officer
for
the
mayor's
office
of
education
I
would
like
to
begin
by
thanking
Councilwoman,
Blackwell
and
Councilman
o
and
the
members
of
the
Committee
on
Finance
for
inviting
me
to
offer
testimony
today
on
bill
number
one.
Six,
one
zero
six
one
which
would
establish
a
non-profit
corporation
to
reimburse
School
District
of
Philadelphia
teachers
for
a
portion
of
out-of-pocket
expenses
spent
on
classroom
supplies
and
equipment.
F
I
appreciate
the
importance,
the
important
issue
that
this
bill
seeks
to
address
and
I
applaud
efforts
to
support
our
amazing
teachers,
because
the
school
district
Philadelphia
does
not
receive
sufficient
state
funding
to
meet
the
comprehensive
needs
of
our
schools.
Educators
often
spend
their
own
money
on
classroom
supplies.
I
experienced
this
firsthand,
both
as
a
teacher
when
I
was
a
teacher
at
Germantown
high
school
and
also
as
a
school
administrator
here
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
especially
at
South
Philadelphia
high
school.
However,
this
bill
creates
a
potential
duplication
of
services
for
supporting
teachers
across
the
district.
F
Earlier
this
year,
I
joined
the
board
of
directions
for
the
fund
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia,
the
fund
and
independent
501
C
3,
not-for-profit
organization.
That
raises
in
it
many
there's
philanthropic
contributions
to
provide
support,
services
and
programs
within
district
schools.
The
fun
existed,
the
funds
existing
organizational
structure
can
be
utilized
to
fulfill
this
task
and
lure
creating
a
new
nonprofit
entity
to
provide
a
similar
service
I.
Thank
you
again
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have
at
this
time.
Thank.
G
You,
madam
chair,
and
thank
you
mr.
Hackney,
for
your
testimony.
I
just
wanted
you,
particularly
because
of
Miss
Emily
Taylor's
comments
in
response:
the
Councilwoman
Reynolds
Brown,
the
question
regarding
her
knowledge
of
the
fund
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
is
fund
and
the
potential
duplications
of
services
in
her
response.
In
addition
to
that,
I
appreciate
your
acknowledging
the
out-of-pocket
expense
that
occurs
on
a
natural
basis
for
those
who
are
in
the
classroom,
teachers
and
administrators.
G
G
G
F
F
You
know
the
teachers
and
building
principals
of
how
to
utilize
that
so
that
way,
we
can
cover
the
cost
of
different
projects
or
expenses
that
teaching
the
firm
I
can
tell
you,
as
a
former
teacher
and
principal
I've,
come
out
of
pocket
many
times.
My
wife
reminded
me
over
the
weekend
when
I
was
thinking
about
today.
How
much
we
spent
over
the
years.
F
In
terms
of
you
know
the
instructional
supplies,
but
also
helping
children
like
buying
shoes,
clothes
food,
that
I
know
that
we
have
done
the
Hackney's
have
done
over
the
years,
including
principal
Hackney,
and
in
terms
of
helping
to
close
the
gap
on
different
programs
that
we
always
come
out
of
pocket.
Often
so
how
do
we
better
utilize
dollars
in
our
schools?
So
that
way,
we
can
cover
the
cost
from
creative
ways
that
I
was.
F
If
we
were
ever
to
get
when
I
was
able
to
get
philanthropic
dollars,
contributed
to
South
Philadelphia
high
school,
we
would
be
pinning
small,
like
mini
grants,
so
that
way,
a
principal
a
teacher
could
put
in
a
request
and
ask
for
a
certain
amount
and
really
be
thoughtful
about
how
they
would
utilize
those
dollars
in
the
classroom.
So
there
are
ways
to
be
really
responsive
and
to
the
needs
of
teachers.
H
Thank
You
chairwoman
and
Thank
You
councilman
Parker,
and
thank
you.
You
know,
chief
executive
officer.
What
is
Hackney
you
you
are,
you
know
just
great
reputation
as
a
principal
and
as
a
teacher
I
will
say
my
concerns
are
this:
I
am
I
am
very
happy
to
work
in
anyway,
I'm
just
one
of
17
legislators,
but
I
also
have
to
do
my
part.
My
concern
is
one
that,
starting
with
this,
that
the
issue
of
teachers
spending
their
own
money
and
and
for
the
most
part,
the
problem
for
our
schools.
H
H
It
make
it
transparent
to
the
public
and
even
I
as
a
councilman,
don't
know
how
much
money,
teachers
and
even
parents
are
spending
to
support
schools,
classrooms
and
other
things,
the
the
thing
that
has
been
available
to
teachers
that
they
seem
to
all
know
about,
and
it
is
not
any
other
reimbursement
program
than
100
dollars
for
the
year
again.
For
the
second
time
that
we've
had
a
hearing,
we
just
happen
to
go
out
to
a
fast-food
place.
H
It's
actually
Burger
King
for
kids,
my
wife
buying
food
for
all
of
them
in
a
cousin,
you
know,
costs
forty
seven
dollars.
Forty
seven
dollars
for
Burger
King
teachers
getting
reimbursed
a
hundred
dollars
for
thirty
kids
or
more
for
the
year
is
woefully
tragically
horribly,
inefficient
and
I.
Understand
that
you
know
there
are
big
fish
to
fry.
All
I'm
saying
is
trying
to
fry
all
these
big,
fresh
and
salt
solve
the
entire
School
District
problem
to
me
is
I'll,
say
inadequate.
H
A
if
the
fund
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
will
commit
to
establishing
a
separately
created
fund
that
its
sole
and
only
purpose
is
to
reimburse
teachers
up
to
five
thousand
dollars
and
that's
been
a
point
of
contention.
You
know
people
say
like
five
thousand
dollars:
yeah
five
thousand
dollars
up
to
five
thousand,
not
not
like
that,
but
one
hundred
dollars
five
hundred
dollars
is
completely
inadequate
and
I
understand.
There's
challenges
about
funding
the
creation
of
a
fund
to
reimburse
teachers
is
just
the
creation
of
the
entity.
H
H
Secondly,
the
the
administration
and
I
understand
and
I
can't
say
you
could
correct
me
if
I'm
wrong,
the
fund
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
has
not
committed
to
creating
a
dedicated
funding
source
to
reimburse
teachers.
There
are
a
lot
of
things
on
that
plate
and
teachers,
reimbursements,
historically,
have
been
very
low
priority.
I
would
just
say
that
you
know
from
the
top
point
of
view
of
fixing
the
school
district.
H
That's
a
huge
enormous
challenge
that
I
know
a
lot
of
good
people
are
working
on,
but
it's
just
a
huge
challenge,
but
on
the
ground
level
classroom
to
classroom
school
to
school,
we
have
teachers
and
to
me
the
teachers
are
the
the
things
that
the
people
that
fill
the
the
cracks
and
my
question
is:
can
you
either
commit
to
reimbursing
teachers
in
a
way
other
than
like
a
hundred
dollars
or
200
bucks?
You
know
a
year:
if
not,
what
is
the
opposition
to
creating
this
fund?
You
said
potential
duplication
to
my
knowledge,
there's
no
duplication.
H
Yet
you
know
they're.
The
the
fund
for
the
school
district
has
not
created
a
reimbursement
process,
so
so
it
may
create
a
reimbursement
process,
but
it's
just
one
of
a
zillion
things
the
fund
is
doing
and,
and
then
there's
the
school
district
itself
and
we're
not
getting
into
has
nothing
to
do
with
that.
The
contract,
negotiation
or
anything
as
I've
said
before
I've
been
I've
I've
had
communications
with
some
entities
that
that
are
interested
in
funding,
but
you
know,
but
not
not.
We
can't
go
further
if
we
don't
have
a
fund
so.
F
F
I
can
say
that,
on
behalf
of
the
mayor's
the
mayor's
office,
the
mayor
has
set
up.
You
know
his
he's
been
very
public
about
the
luxury
boxes
in
the
stadiums
that
he
has
set
up.
So
that
way,
the
funds
go
to
the
fund
for
Philadelphia,
for
a
school
district
Philadelphia
to
support
schools
and
teachers
in
those
efforts,
and
so
how
do
we
just
make
sure?
F
How
do
we
ensure
that
that
information
is
out
to
teachers
and
they
know
how
to
access
those
resources
and
or
how
do
we
make
sure
that
those
that
would
like
to
donate,
contribute-
and
you
know,
philanthropic
dollars
towards
the
fund,
so
that
way
that
those
monies
can
be
earmarked
for
teachers
and
no
supplies
or
special
projects?
We
can
meet
and
figure
out
what
would
be
a
reasonable
amount.
F
F
It
is,
it
is
a
reality
and
it's
a
reality
that
we've
existed
in
dealt
with
for
a
long
time,
but
the
inadequacies
in
the
state
funding
and
when
those
budget
cuts
hit
and
I
was
a
sitting
principal
at
the
time
when
the
last
round
of
when
a
billion
dollars
was
cut-
and
we
saw
I
mean
paper-
was
a
premium
resources,
pencils
for
testing.
All
of
those
things
became
a
batteries
for
calculators
before
testing.
All
of
those
things
became
an
extreme
premium,
let
alone
the
resources
that
you
would
need
just
to
run
the
class.
F
You
know
your
classroom
on
a
daily
basis,
so
you
know
disagreement
in
terms
of
the
need,
but
it's
just
making
sure
if
we
have
a
you
know,
an
organization
that
is
ready,
willing
and
Rd
staff
and
has
the
resources
and
the
means
and
the
know-how
to
do
this.
To
do
it,
that's
why
you
know
just
advising
on
how
we
can
better
partner
with
the
existing
structure.
Yeah.
H
Let
me
say
that
I
don't
want
to
waste
time
and
I'm
not
directing
this
towards
you
I'm,
try
not
to
make
it
negative.
What
I'm
saying
is,
if
we're
just
going
to
BS
around
this,
let's
just
kill
it
today
and
move
on
to
something
else.
You
know
I,
don't
want
to
have
a
discussion
about
something
about
something,
in
other
words,
the
the
reimbursement
that
teachers
predates
the
billion
dollar
cut.
I
mean
before
the
billion
dollars
cut.
There
was
teachers
there
were
teachers
spending
their
own
money.
H
It's
been
an
ongoing
issue
and
it's
it's
not
like.
It
happened
five
years
ago
or
ten.
It's
just
been
an
ongoing
thing.
It's
just
been
exacerbated
by
the
current
situation
and
the
school
district
is
looking
at
a
seven
hundred
million
dollar
deficit
and
a
whole
bunch
of
other
issues.
For
me,
the
creation
of
a
separate
fund
means
the
only
thing
that
fund
is
for
is
to
reimburse
teachers
that
money
does
not
go
anywhere
else
can't
go
for
something
else,
something
more
important.
That's
the
only
thing
it
does
and
to
my
knowledge,
there's.
H
Eighty-Five
thousand
dollars
from
the
former
effort
by
Mayor
Nutter
that
is
discontinued
by
the
United
Way,
so
there's
eighty-five
thousand
dollars
they're
going
to
give
to
the
school
district
there's
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
that
was
appropriated
and
for
specifically
reimbursing
school
supplies
under
Mayor
Nutter
--zz
program
and
there's
been
at
least
on
paper,
another
two
hundred
thousand
dollars.
So
there's
theoretically
up
to
four
hundred
eighty
five
thousand
dollars
available,
simply
to
reimburse
teachers
I,
don't
know
where
that
money
is
going,
I'm,
not
saying
that
that
money
should
go
into
this
fund.
H
All
I'm
saying
is:
there
has
been
money
identified,
but
at
the
end
of
the
day
it's
woefully
inadequate
and
there
has
to
be,
at
least
in
my
opinion.
If
we're
going
to
be
serious
about
this,
a
commitment
to
reimbursing
teachers
and
one
of
the
things
I'm
concerned
about,
is
you
know,
people
fund
different
things.
Quite
frankly,
when
someone
says
to
me,
you
know,
should
I
give
a
contribution
to
the
SRC.
H
If
there
was
a
serious
interest
in
creating
a
teachers
reimbursement
fund
within
this
fund
for
the
school
district,
there
would
be
a
proposal
and
there
isn't
there's
a
discussion.
Then
it's
got
to
be
voted
on
and
then
you
know
it's
not
going
to
be
dedicated
and
then
how
much
are
we
talking
about?
What's
the
mechanism,
I
would
just
say
like
here's,
the
best
I
can
do
I'm
just
a
legislator.
The
mayor
is
another
elected
official.
He
can
propose
something,
and
you
know
the
SRC
could
propose
something
and
everybody
could
propose
something.
H
This
is
just
what
I
proposed
and
I've
not
seen
a
counter
proposal
similar
a
dedicated
funding
thing.
We
know
how
much
money
is
in
basically
vetted
by
former
school
Philadelphia
school
teachers
who
know
what
the
difference
is
and
in
an
effort
to
get
money
into
it,
so
that
we
will
and
they
will,
and
everybody
will
know
that
the
money
in
there
is
for
reimbursing
teachers
and
addressing
inequity
in
our
school
system.
But
thank
you
very
much.
Thank
you.
Thank.
B
I
Leslie
Grace
from
art
teacher
at
Nevinger,
elementary
and
I
would
like
to
begin
by
thanking
chairman
Blackwell
councilman
Oh,
and
the
members
of
the
committee
on
excuse
me
on
Finance
for
this
opportunity
to
offer
testimony
today
in
support
of
bill
number
one.
Six
106
one
I
feel
like
I'm,
really
fired
up
sorry
I'm
waiting
for
so
long.
I
would
like
to
emphasize
some
of
the
points
I
made
when
I
previously
spoke
in
support
of
this
bill.
I
Furthermore,
though
there
are
programs
like
the
fund
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia,
that
does
not
directly
support
all
classroom
teachers
in
all
subject
areas,
especially
areas
where
we
serve
all
children
like
special
their
stated
majority.
Their
stated
major
priority
of
establishing
libraries
in
all
k3
classrooms,
so
significant
and
obviously
important,
does
not
help
support
all
teachers
in
the
district
and
does
not
help
support
all
of
the
classroom.
I
Need
this
bill
would
not
create
a
duplication
of
service,
and
if
there
are
multiple
vehicles
for
funding,
then
I
stay
all
the
better
$100
and
that's
it,
and
if
anyone
in
front
of
the
classroom
or
who
has
a
child,
knows
as
well
that
that
$100
does
not
go
far.
Furthermore,
at
the
Philadelphia
education
supplies
fun
during
United
Way
estab
established
by
Michel
Mayor
Nutter
going
all
backwards
here.
I
Regardless
this
bill
is
just
to
establish
a
transparent
nonprofit
to
help
support
our
city's
hard-working
teachers
who
spend
their
own
hard-earned
dollars
on
their
students.
Why
is
it
accepted
and
expected
as
the
norm
for
teachers
to
pay
out
of
their
wages?
Teachers
are
professionals
and
we
should
be
treated
as
such
if
we
spend
our
own
money
on
our
students,
we
should
be
in
reimbursed
I
fail
to
see
why
this
bill
would
not
be
supported,
as
it
would
be
a
non-profit,
and
it
would
only
do
good
to
help
raise
the
equity
of
education
in
our
district.
I
I
have
personally
paid
for
over
twelve
thousand
dollars
of
supplies,
furnitures
and
technology
for
my
classroom
over
the
past
four
years.
In
addition
wanting
to
ensure
that
my
students
have
an
equitable
education
to
that
of
their
counterparts
in
more
affluent
areas
or
districts,
I've
had
to
hustle
and
grovel
for
funding,
as
well
as
paying
out
of
my
own
pocket.
I
spent
countless
hours
fundraising
for
my
room,
begging,
family
members,
friends
and
the
greater
community
and
in
total
I've
raised
over
$20,000
in
the
past
four
years,
though,
I'm
grateful
for
my
$100
allotment.
I
That
amount
clearly
cannot
support
a
classroom.
Please
do
not
pause
for
cause.
Please
do
not
take
a
step
back.
This
is
a
fund
that
is
urgently
needed
to
support
all
teachers
all
classrooms
and
would
have
a
direct
positive
effect
on
all
students
at
no
loss
to
the
city
and
no
loss
to
the
school
district.
I
If
we
want
to
ensure
the
equitable
education
of
our
city,
students
and
this
bill
needs
support,
we're
losing
great
teachers
in
our
city
to
more
affluent
school
districts
where
they
are
provided
with
budgets,
fundamental
supplies
and
are
valued
in
their
role
as
a
professional
educator.
I
would
also
like
to
submit
into
the
record
the
petition
with
231
signatures
and
growing
I
might
add
and
support
as
bill
161
I
was
sixth
one.
Please
show
your
support
of
our
city's
teachers
in
schools.
Please
vote
to
move
this
bill
out
of
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation.
J
My
name
is
Vivian
Hansberry
and
unless
I
am
a
retired
teacher
of
25
years,
I
am
also
the
president
of
the
Philadelphia
public
schools,
employees,
retirees
Association
and
the
Regional
Director
of
the
Pennsylvania
State
Association
of
retirees
when
I.
When
my
organization's
heard
about
councilman
olds
bill
I
was
amazed.
I
said
to
myself,
so
the
clock
has
reversed
to
over
25
years,
and
here
teachers
are
still
required
to
use
our
personal
funds
to
provide
the
necessary
materials
that
children
need
in
a
classroom,
especially
children
with
special
needs.
J
J
So
there's
two
people
who
preceded
me
said
most
of
what
I
was
going
to
say
so
I
will
shorter
my
testimony
to
just
say
to
the
City
Council.
This
is
a
lead.
You
said
in
somebody's
classroom
you
achieve,
because
we
teachers
taught
you
the
skills
that
you
need
to
achieve.
How
dare
you
say
you
cannot
find
the
funds
F
over
the
phones
for
children
to
achieve.
This
is
an
excellent
bill
and
we
encourage
you
to
pass
the
bill.
My
two
organizations
are
willing
to
do
anything
that
you
deem
necessary
to
ensure
that
this
bill
fails.
J
D
Will
be
very
brief
in
my
presentation
and
my
request
for
the
support
of
bill
16
one
of
six
one
and
I'd
say
I'd
like
to
say
good
afternoon
to
your
person,
council,
lady
Blackwell,
and
to
the
Honorable
council
members
who
were
present
and
as
a
test
employee
of
the
Philadelphia
public
school
system.
I
fully
support
this
bill
could.
B
D
They
had
thought
fungal
and
they
had
provided
funds
for
his
education.
Fortunately,
we
have
had
to
supplement
some
of
that
because
they
did
a
number
of
very
special
things.
They
had
an
exchange
program
that
had
to
be
funded
and
forth.
That
was
provided.
Some
of
the
teachers
provided
funds
for
that
I
also,
as
the
grandmother
helped
to
provide
that
the
generous
proceeds
from
the
teachers
pocket
was
greatly
appreciated
and
it
was
beneficial
to
not
only
my
grandchildren
but
to
the
other
students
in
that
classroom.