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From YouTube: Finance Committee Discussion of Bill No. 161061 5-1-2017
Description
From the Public Hearing of Philadelphia City Council's Committee on Finance, held May 1, 2017:
Discussion and testimony relating to Bill No. 161061
"An Ordinance 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."
Sponsor: Councilman David Oh (At Large)
Committee on Finance
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilman Bobby Henon (6th District)
C
C
What
I
mean
is
today
I
as
a
city?
Councilperson
do
not
know
what
it
takes
to
adequately
fund
the
schools
and
if
we
had
a
reimbursement
fund
that
would
encourage
teachers
to
submit
what
they
already
paid
for
and
I
would
say
to
the
public.
Look
as
a
teacher
who
is
lacking
resources.
If
you
have
a
heart
you're
going
to
go,
get
this
material
out
of
your
wages.
But
then
you
know
you
have
to
go,
identify
it
find
what's
affordable,
pick
it
up,
bring
it
to
the
school
and
try
to
employ
it.
C
We
need
to
know
how
much
money
teachers
are
spending,
so
we
have
a
better
idea
what
it
takes
to
adequately
fund
our
schools.
There
are
programs,
there
was
a
program
where
in
Philadelphia,
if
a
teacher
spent
money,
they
could
submit
for
a
$75
reimbursement
to
the
school,
not
they're
out
of
their
pocket
to
the
school
for
the
entire
year.
I
take
my
kids
out
on
a
weekend
for
kids.
C
We
need
to
know
that
and
more
than
anything,
it's
discouraging
and
disheartening
to
our
teaching
professionals
and
others
when
they're,
not
even
given
the
opportunity
to
submit
what
they
have
spent
themselves.
As
a
way
of
saying
this
is
essential
material.
My
friend
councilman
Maria,
Kiana
Sanchez,
has
told
me
the
story
of
one
of
her
friends
who's,
a
teacher
and
she
put
on
her
Christmas
list.
You
know
don't
get
me
anything,
but
what
I
need
for
my
kids
toilet
paper?
Can
you
imagine
kids
with
no
toilet
paper?
If
the
teacher
doesn't
provide
it?
C
I
am
sure
people
don't
want
us
to
keep
a
list
of
all
the
things
that
aren't
provided
that
need
to
be
provided
and
they
oppose
what
we're
doing
today
and
I
would
say
it's
important
for
us,
as
an
independent
body
of
elected
officials,
to
make
sure
that
we
provide
an
opportunity
for
teachers
to
submit
for
reimbursement.
Have
that
list
see
what's
going
on
and,
furthermore,
to
ensure
that
equity
reaches
our
classroom.
So
with
that,
I
really
appreciate
the
teachers
that
are
here
and
all
the
organizations
and
support
arm
and
I.
Look
forward
to
your
testimony.
E
D
F
Ahead
and
begin,
then,
all
right
good
afternoon,
my
name
is
Leslie
grace,
I
teach
at
Nevinger
elementary
and
the
art
teacher
there
and
I'd
like
to
thank
you
for
this
opportunity
to
speak
and
testify
on
behalf
of
this
bill.
Is
there
a
high
need,
a
high
level
to
reimburse
teachers
in
silly
schools,
I
say
without
a
doubt,
and
I
can
personally
attest
to
that
for
the
past
four
years
that
I've
been
employed
in
the
district
I
spent
my
own
money
to
supplement
the
needs
of
my
classroom.
F
I
want
to
ensure
that
my
students
have
an
equitable
education
to
that
of
their
counterparts
in
more
affluent
areas
or
districts,
and
to
do
so
I've
had
to
grovel
for
funding
and
pad
of
my
own
pocket.
It's
a
sad
statement
to
say
that
I've
become
accustomed
to
and
used
to
hustling
for
my
art
room,
I've
used
multiple
forms
of
crowd-sourced
fundraising
for
my
classroom,
desperately
pleading
with
friends,
relatives
and
community
and
I've
consistently
put
my
own
money
into
those
efforts.
F
On
average,
I
spend
about
$3,000
a
year
of
my
earnings,
whether
purchasing
supplies
to
support
my
curriculum,
buying
books,
to
link
literacy
in
the
art
room
and
even
providing
students
with
food
and
snacks
for
when
they
have
to
stay
after
school.
For
performances.
This
is
a
major
disturbance
to
our
students
and
to
the
profession
of
Education.
Our
attention
should
be
spent
more
on
building
and
refined.
Our
curriculum
growing
professionally,
reflecting
on
in
assessing
on
student
artwork
and
keeping
up
with
best
practices,
a
doctor
would
not
be
asked
to
provide
their
own
scaffold.
F
The
wire
teachers
expected
to
spend
out
of
their
pocket
on
supplies
in
Philadelphia.
This
issue
is
further
complicated
by
the
lack
of
the
new
and
fair
contract
teachers
have
been
without
arrays
for
about
five
years.
Meanwhile,
the
cost
of
living
increases,
as
do
the
interest
rate.
It
should
not
be
expected
or
accepted
that
teachers
should
be
paying
their
wages
toward
classroom
supplies
and
B's
or
in
any
condition.
F
Currently,
the
PSP
does
provide
a
one
hundred
dollar
reimbursement
to
teachers
for
classroom
purchases.
On
top
of
that,
there
is
a
two
hundred
and
fifty
dollar
education
expense
deduction.
Teachers
can
claim,
on
their
taxes,
now
recall
back
to
the
yearly
three
thousand
dollar
price
tag.
I
dish
out,
as
you
can
see,
the
need
is
great
and
the
funds
to
reimburse
us
is
low.
Perhaps
we
could
make
a
statement
and
buy
nothing.
F
Let
our
classrooms
be
barren
and
not
has
the
material
to
teach
our
curriculum,
but
that
would
be
passing
the
burden
on
to
our
students,
who
should
not
have
to
suffer
for
those
shortcomings
of
a
district
or
a
school
budget.
Why
should
City
Council
support
this
bill?
If
it's
not
already
obvious,
the
students
of
philadelphia
deserve
a
fair
chance,
an
equitable
chance
to
have
the
best
education.
Our
classrooms
should
not
be
empty.
Our
students
should
never
feel
at
a
disadvantage.
Their
zip
code
should
not
determine
their
life
experiences.
F
G
Name
is
Emily
Taylor
and
I
am
a
retired
art.
Educator,
I,
went
to
say
good
afternoon
to
City
Council
and
let
you
know
that
I
as
a
retiree
was
an
art
teacher
and
teacher
support
specialist
for
art
education
for
39
years
with
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
support
and
testify
this
bill
that
focuses
on
the
teachers
reimbursement
during
my
career.
I
spent
thousands
of
dollars
for
supplies
to
support
my
art
program.
G
I
was
provided
a
budget
to
start
and
build
a
program
for
two
schools
of
my
employment.
However,
I
did
purchase
specialized
materials
and
resources
that
were
not
available
from
the
school
district
requisition
office
in
the
1970s,
the
materials
I
purchased
were
looks,
pencils
and
pink
posters
in
the
1980s
as
the
years
it
excuse
me,
as
the
years
progressed,
school
budgets
were
reduced,
I
learned
of
grant
opportunities
to
help
supplement
my
school,
my
art
program
and
to
meet
the
needs
of
my
students.
Growing
diverse
population,
I
purchased
art
materials.
G
Closed
the
art
department
quickly,
redistributed
art
supplies
to
be
given
to
schools
in
need
teachers
conducted
methods
to
raise
funds
such
as
pretzel
sales
to
supplement
their
school
budgets
and
continued
to
spend
their
own
money
for
materials.
They
would
quickly
spend
the
$100.00
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.
G
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.
Oh
I
thank
councilman
David
o
for
introducing
this
bill,
and
it
is
my
hope
and
algo
that
City
Council
will
consider
this
bill
and
passing
it
to
help
support
our
students
and
teachers.
Thank
you.
H
Good
afternoon
councilman,
oh
and
all
the
councilmembers
they're
on
board,
my
name
is
Antoinette
Polly,
Turner
and
I'm.
Just
going
to
be
the
person
who
closes
this
up,
because
the
two
previous
colleagues
of
mine
have
done
an
excellent
job
and
really
talking
about
all
the
issues
and
all
the
problems
that
we
are
confronted
with.
I
should
say
that
I
was
confronted
with
and
the
teachers
are
still
confronted
within
the
school
system
in
terms
of
providing
all
the
things
that
our
students
need.
H
This
thing,
shipping
back
books
sets
a
book
from
post
office
to
your
school,
which
my
principal
is
very
very
happy
to
see
the
tragedy
of
always
that
of
this
is
that
we
we
don't
put
education
high
enough
on
the
elevation
of
where
I
think
it
should
be,
particularly
because
this
is
the
21st
century
and
our
young
people
need
to
get
a
good
education
and
the
get
good
education.
You
don't
just
need
a
good
teacher
standing
in
front
of
you.
H
You
need
all
the
things
that's
necessary
for
you
to
be
able
to
be
successful,
so
things
like
having
pencils
ink
pens
things
that
we
think
that
a
lot
of
times
our
kids
come
to
school
with.
We
got
to
realize
the
kids
that
we
are
actually
teaching
and
some
of
their
problems,
social,
economically
health
problems
where
we're
tackling
with
all
these
things.
So
this
bill
when
I
was
confronted
to
talk
in
behalf
of
this
I
said
I'm,
given
a
voice,
I'm
going
to
say
whatever
I
can
say.
H
I
know
there
are
some
teachers
that
probably
can't
say
this
for
fear
of
retribution,
but
I,
don't
fear
anything
at
this
point
in
my
life
and
I
just
want
to
say
that
I'm
very
happy
that
councilman
toe
has
started
enough
to
take
and
proposed
a
bill
be
passed
and
I
truly
hope
that
the
people
that
are
listening
here
on
the
council
really
know.
We
all
have
children
or
had
children
school
systems.
What
do
you
want
for
your
children
and
thank
you
very
much
for
allowing
me
to
speak.
H
A
You
very
much
any
questions
comment.
Thank
you.
Ladies
very
much
will
now
hear
from
panel
to
is
Dianne
wah
for
Barbara
Bennett
here
welcome
forward,
and
thank
you,
ladies
very
much.
While
they
are
coming
forward.
Let
me
note
that
we
are
submitting
to
the
stenographer
written
testimony
from
Otis
Hackney
chief
Education
Officer
mayor's
office
of
giving
a
chance
berry
and
Bernard
Trent
Philadelphia
public
school
retired,
Employees,
Association
and
Jennifer
woods,
ESOL
teacher
Philadelphia
school
district,
and
they
will
be
added
to
this
testimony
as
though
they
were
red.
Thank
you
very
much.
I
J
J
For
43
years
in
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia-
and
it
is
my
privilege
and
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
councilman
Blackwell
and
to
councilman,
oh
and
the
rest
of
the
committee,
finance
committee
and
I
would
like
to
say
that
it
is
a
true
pleasure
to
see
this
particular
bill
in
art
for
in
our
future.
Why?
J
Hopefully,
it
will
be
done
sooner
than
later,
and
my
testimony
is
and
on
behalf
of
the
philippi
public
school
retired
Employees
Association,
and
have
a
statement
from
them
in
reference
to
this
bill
and
I
do
have
some
personal
thought
also
about
the
bill
that
before
us
I
want
to
say.
Thank
you
very
much
for
inviting
us
to
testify.
J
The
falaqa
public
school
teachers
frequently
use
personal
funds
to
purchase
materials
and
supplies
necessary
for
instruction.
Sadly,
the
items
purchased
tend
to
be
very
basic,
that
is
paper
pencils,
crayons,
folders,
glue,
sticks,
tissue,
sanitizers,
etc
in
the
fall
of
people.
Exposed
anied
for
additional
supplies
is
immense.
This
is
the
most
evident.
This
is
most
evident
in
the
schools
located
in
the
economically
depressed
neighborhoods.
J
Each
year,
our
organization,
the
Philippi
public,
school
retired,
Employees
Association
known
as
PBS
Rea
and
the
state
organization,
Pennsylvania
Association
of
school
retirees,
provides
a
small
monetary
educational
support
award
grant
to
a
teacher
in
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia.
We
supply
them
with
a
seven
hundred
couple
of
seven
hundred
fifty
dollar
grant
so
that
they
can
purchase
supplies
and
things
that
they
need,
and
we
are
happy
to
be
able
to
provide
that.
I
have
to
also
mention
that
our
dues
are
very
low.
J
We
pay
fifteen
dollars
a
year,
but
we
are
an
organization
of
four
thousand
people
and
you
know
$15
not
x.
Four
thousand
members
is
not
a
lot
when
you
consider
all
the
other
things
that
we
must
do
past
awardees
taught
in
the
following
schools,
and
that
was
last
year,
the
Bethune
Dunbar
CID
letter
Overbrook
high
school
and
Rowan.
The
purpose
of
the
award
is
to
recognize
outstanding
service
provided
by
an
active
employee
in
the
Philadelphia
public
schools,
despite
the
fact
that
we
are
retirees.
J
Yet
there
are
hundreds
of
teachers
that
use
this
monetary
support
instead
of
using
their
own
personal
funds.
The
mere
fact
that
teachers
are
willing
to
use
personal
funds
for
basic
classroom
supplies
is
a
testament
to
their
dedication
to
the
students,
but
also
an
indictment
of
a
system
that
puts
them
in
a
position.
They
require
them
to
use
personal
funds
for
basic
supplies.
The
need
for
the
replenishment
of
basic
supplies
increases
as
the
school
year
progresses.
J
The
key
to
mitigating,
if
not
remediating.
This
issue
requires
an
in-depth
analysis
of
budget
allocations,
as
determined
by
the
CFO
of
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia.
A
return
to
a
district-wide
program
is
needed
to
address
this
issue
on
a
systemic
level.
Although
principals
are
provided
budgets
for
their
individual
schools,
the
funds
often
are
not
sufficient
to
address
shortages,
often
attributed
to
some
communities.
Parent
having
resources
for
school
supplies
makes
this
necessary.
J
J
Clearly,
this
is
something
that
is
sorely
needed
for
the
teachers
as
well
as
the
students.
It
would
be
an
immense
asset
to
teachers,
students
and
the
community,
the
Philadelphia
public,
school
retired
Employees
Association
Lords
and
supports
the
council
a
compliment.
Those
efforts
to
authorize
City
Council
to
a
file
Articles
of
Incorporation
to
establish
a
nonprofit
corporation
with
the
name,
the
philosophy
of
teachers,
reimbursement
fund.
We
thank
you
for
hearing
our
request
and
hopefully
getting
some
action.
I
For
the
opportunity,
on
behalf
of
the
teachers
in
the
Philadelphia
writing
project,
I'm
honored
to
speak
in
support
of
councilman
OHS
bill
to
create
a
fund
to
reimburse
teachers
for
money
spent
on
school
supplies
for
the
classroom.
Many
teachers
in
the
Philadelphia
writing
project
Network
spend
over
$500
or
more
even
before
school
starts
paying
out
of
pocket
for
supplies.
They
need
to
do
their
job
as
well
as
creating
a
warm
and
inviting
classroom
environment
for
their
students
in
elementary
schools.
In
particular.
This
starts
with
creating
bulletin
board
displays
that
remain
vibrant.
I
Three
12-pack
bundles
of
composition,
books
for
her
students,
$60
file
folders
for
each
child,
$10
for
a
box
of
a
100
as
well
as
pre
sharpened
pencils
144
in
a
box
for
$15
Andy,
also
spent
her
money
to
replace
the
worn
tattered
area
rug
in
her
classroom
because
there
was
no
money
in
the
school
budget
to
buy
a
new
one.
Her
students
spend
a
large
percentage
of
their
time
on
the
carpet
for
morning
meeting
reading
independently
learning
vocabulary,
practicing
phonics
and
other
learning
activities.
I
The
rug
really
helps
to
build
community
and
make
her
class
read
aloud
and
small
group
work
an
intimate
fun
experience
for
her
students,
the
rug
alone
cost
five
hundred
and
sixteen
dollars
in
September.
Her
students
entered
a
well
resourced
classroom
with
an
inviting
colorful
carpet
as
a
focal
point,
but
in
October
after
the
district
leveling
process,
Andy
was
transferred
to
another
school
and
didn't
have
the
heart
to
take
down
the
bulletin
boards
or
remove
the
supplies
she
purchased
for
her
students.
A
E
Additionally,
I
do
have
some
questions
for
the
sponsor
of
the
bill
to
get
some
more
information
on
the
record,
so
that
we
can
better
understand
what
what
we
want
to
step
into.
But
we
appreciate
your
voice
and,
as
I
said,
I
think
I
speak
for
all
members
for
a
knowledge
in
a
noble
intent
of
the
bill.
So
thank
you
all
for
standing
up
and
showing
up
or
to
speak
on
behalf
of
our
city's
children.
Paying
here,
I
do
have
a
few
points
of
information.
E
C
To
the
to
the
United
Way
and
through
the
United
Way,
which
held
the
money,
but
the
city
had
the
application
process,
they
then
provided
to
the
SRC
or
the
School
District
$551.
After
that
two
thousand
seventeen
twenty
one
thousand
dollars
were
provided
to
the
United
Way
and
no
money
was
given
to
the
to
the
school
district.
Although
money
has
been
appropriated
for
2017
and
2018,
so
there
was
a
program
that
I
believe
reimbursed
schools
per
teacher
up
to
seventy-five
dollars.
C
E
C
School
district
has
chosen
not
to
appear,
they
were
certainly
invited,
and
the
mayor's
office
of
Education
has
submitted
a
two
paragraph
letter,
basically
stating
that
they
agree
with
the
intention,
but
do
not
believe
that
creating
this
fund
is
the
best
use
of
local
tax
revenue.
I
would
point
out
that
the
fund
that
we're
creating
simply
creates
a
fund.
C
We
cannot
appropriate
money
or
even
get
corporations
to
donate
money
unless
a
fund
is
created
and
whatever
the
program
whatever
program
the
city
or
the
school
district
had
in
the
past
is
not
relevant,
because
none
of
that
money
would
come
to
this
fund.
We'd
have
to
establish
this
fund
first
in
order
to
be
able
to
obtain
money
to
reimburse
teachers.
Oh.
D
You
know
we
certainly
see
the
daily
challenges
that
our
teachers
and
the
struggles
that
our
school
district
and
PFD
members
go
through
what
it
will
in
a
daily
basis-
and
you
know
you
know,
with
the
contract-
that's
long
overdue,
it's
five
years
that
you
know.
Hopefully
you
know
with
the
persistence
of
the
administration
and
every
member
of
City
Council.
D
You
know
that
action
that
you
know
we
come
to
a
contract,
resolved
and
and
I
think
that
that's
the
most
important
thing
in
in
my
pursuance
of
how
you
know
the
school
district
and
PFD
can
come
together
is
getting
it
in
this
contract.
You
know,
but
the
pause
for
cause
as
a
council
as
councilman
duly
stated
at
so.
First
of
all,
thank
you.
I
get
off.
You
know,
I
dress
a
little
bit,
but
thank
you
for
being
here.
Thank
you
for
what
you
do
every
single
day
and
I
understand
it.
D
As
a
matter
of
fact,
I
help
buy
supplies
for
a
couple
of
schools.
In
my
district
and
I
know,
you
know,
councilman
Dom
has
done
tremendous
work
with
his
contribution
to
the
school
district
individually.
We,
you
know
the
pause
for
cause.
For
me
here
would
be
you
know
in
the
budget
this
year
and
you
know
in
the
last
couple
years
you
see
an
allocation
for
an
education
fund,
16,
17
and
18.
D
You
know
allocating
appropriating
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
for
me
and
specifically
for
the
education
fund
to
me.
I
think
we
need
to
take
a
step
back
and
find
out
like
or
we're
appropriating
resources
for
an
education
supplies
fund
which
is
needed.
What
we
need
to
find
out
are
those
supplies
being
purchased
or
the
teachers
being
reimbursed
who's
not
being
reimbursed
what
is
being
submitted.
So
it
is
my
ask
that
we
we
pause
and
take
take
a
step
back
for
a
second
and
figure
out.
D
So
you
know
I'm
going
to
ask
that
the
committee
just
take
a
step
back
for
a
second
here
and
when
we
go
to
our
public
meeting
hold
off
on
it.
Let
us
do
a
little
more
research
before
we
store
creating
funds.
You
know
where
we
don't
have
to,
but
we
might
need
to
let's
find
out
what
we
do
have
and
the
money
that's
being
allocated
and
appropriated
I'm
going
to
make
sure
that
it's
actually
going
to
the
fund.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
C
You
very
much
I,
thank
all
that
my
colleagues
for
their
their
concerns,
I
would
say,
have
no
fear.
We
have
known
for
years
and
years
and
decades
and
if
not
more
than
decades,
that
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
does
not
provide
fundamental
supplies,
typically
on
a
basis
of
which
neighborhood
you're
in
but
but
even
good
neighborhoods
teachers
have
had
to
go
out
and
purchase
the
materials
to
to
educate
children.
I
got
four
kids
there,
a
handful
on
a
Saturday,
let
alone
30
kids
that
you've
got
to
educate,
keep
their
attention.
C
You
can't
do
it
just
talking.
You
got
to
have
supplies
materials,
resources,
I,
would
hope,
technology
that
suburban
communities
have
but
I
understand.
Why
go
out
and
buy
this
stuff
with
their
own
money,
call
their
mom
and
dad
their
best
friend
go
on
social
media
I,
don't
know
what
we
need
to
look
at
I
do
understand
that
there
is
a.
There
is
a
question,
because
the
administration,
at
least
the
office
of
the
of
the
mayor's
office
of
education,
does
not
support
this
and
I.
C
Don't
know
where
the
SRC
is
because
they're,
not
here
all
I
can
say,
is
I.
Think
they
would
be
fumbling
around
today
trying
to
trying
to
say
something
about
why
we
wouldn't
vote
on
this
and
establish
a
fund.
Half
a
million
dollars
is
is
not
enough.
We
need
to
put
more
money
into
this.
It
needs
to
be
independent.
This
this
entity
would
be
separate
from
politics.
It
would
consist
of
teachers,
former
teachers
who
would
look
at
every
request
and
make
a
decision.
Is
it
necessary?
Is
it
fundamental
how
much?
C
If
any,
should
we
reimburse
I
would
say?
Let's
get
this
out
of
committee.
I
will
certainly
hold
it
after
it
comes
out
of
committee
if
the
administration
or
the
SRC
or
anybody
wants
to
come
up
and
talk
about
it,
some
more.
If
somebody
wants
to
come
up
with
another
idea,
but
putting
it
back
to
do
more
research
about
what
we
already
know,
I
would
say
will
be
a
very
discouraging
message
that
we
don't
have
the
will
to
address
it
and
I
think
we
do
so
I
hope
that
we
will
vote
this
out
of
committee.