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From YouTube: Committee on Law and Government 12-12-2017
Description
The Committee on Law and Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:
170954 An Ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, relating to the selection of the Members of the Board of Education, as approved by Resolution of the City Council; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot question to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.
170967 Resolution proposing an amendment to the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the selection of the Members of the Board of Education; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Committee on Law and Government
Chair: Councilman Bill Greenlee (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilman Derek Green (At Large)
B
A
A
C
It
okay,
sorry
about
that.
My
name
is
Jane
Slusser,
chief
of
staff
to
Mayor
Jim,
Kenney
and
I'm
joined
here
today
by
Otis
Hackney.
Our
chief
Education
Officer
I'm
pleased
to
be
here
today
to
provide
testimony
in
support
of
bill
number
one
709
54
and
resolution
number
one
709
67,
which
proposes
an
amendment
to
the
educational
supplement
to
the
Home
Rule
Charter,
allowing
for
counsels,
advice
and
consent
to
the
mayor's
appointees
to
the
Board
of
Education.
C
In
his
address
to
Council
on
November
2nd
mayor
Kenney
outlined
his
goal
to
return
school
governance,
governance
of
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
to
a
locally
appointed
Board
of
Education.
The
mayor
described
his
strong
belief
that
four
key
factors
must
be
present
in
order
for
the
school
district
to
be
successful,
adequate
resources,
strong
management,
collaboration
with
the
city
and
direct
accountability.
We
need
local
control
to
continue
the
district's
progress
on
each
of
these
factors.
C
Taking
success
to
the
next
level
means
better
academic
results
for
students
and
more
equitable
and
vibrant
Philadelphia,
with
the
Board
of
Education
appointed
by
the
mayor
and
approved
by
City
Council,
the
governing
body
of
the
school
district
will
be
redirected
to
the
elected
officials
who
chose
them
and
ultimately
to
the
voters.
The
expected
timeline
for
a
return
to
local
control
takes
us
to
March
of
2018.
C
As
you
are
aware,
the
school
reform
Commission's
recommendation
to
dissolve
is
subject
to
the
approval
of
the
Secretary
of
Education,
who
has
until
December
31st
2017
to
certify
their
decision
and
allow
the
SRC
to
dissolve
at
the
end
of
the
school
year
or
June
30th
2018
in
early
2008,
a
new
era
2018.
The
mayor
plans
to
appoint
the
educational
nominating
panel
has
outlined
in
the
educational
supplement.
C
This
body
will
then
have
40
days
to
submit
to
the
mayor
a
list
of
27
individuals,
three
for
every
available
appointment,
from
which
the
mayor
will
then
select
nine
for
appointment
to
the
board.
It
is
expected
that
this
process
will
be
completed
by
early
to
mid
March
of
2018.
This
will
allow
for
a
thorough
and
smooth
transition
process,
during
which
all
of
the
new
Board
of
Education
members
will
have
ample
time
to
prepare
for
their
important
new
roles.
C
While
this
process
will
be
before
the
final
adoption
of
this
amendment
by
the
voters
in
the
May
primary
election,
it
is
nonetheless
important
that
these
individuals
go
through
the
public
process
prescribed
by
the
amendment.
For
that
reason,
the
mayor
plans
to
submit
the
appointments
to
Council
for
your
advise
and
consent
on
these
initial
appointments,
as
well
as
any
future
appointments
after
the
effective
date
of
this
amendment.
That
concludes
my
testimony
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
have
thank.
A
D
D
So
there's
one
about
the
time
of
confirmation
and
if
I,
if
I
could
paraphrase
that
there
used
to
be
a
date
certain
that,
from
the
time
you
submit
those
names
that
there
is
a
action
by
this
council
to
either
confirm
or
not
confirm,
otherwise
they
will
be
deemed
confirmed.
Tell
us
why
you
have
that
opinion.
C
C
So
we
want
to
make
sure
that
if
we
send
names
up
and
there's
no
action
taken,
you
know
for
six
months
that
we
are
able
to
get
those
people,
and
so
we
want
to
have
a
clear
timeline
so
that
we
don't
have
a
school
board
without
any
members
or
without
enough
members
to
actually
take
action.
So,
let's
assume.
D
C
Should
be
making
it,
we
will
be
making
appointments
in
March
with
the
idea
that
the
school,
the
Board
of
Education,
will
need
to
take
some
time
to
have
a
full
transition
to
get
up
to
speed
on
their
new
roles.
So
we'll
make
those
appointments
in
March
send
those
up
to
Council,
but
their
effective
date
won't
be
until
July
of
2018,
so
they'll
have
about
what
is
that
five
month
period
of
ramping
up
so.
C
D
You
guys
need
a
little
more
time
to
get
ready
for
them
to
open
the
door
so
somewhere
in
between
those
times
is
either
a
failsafe
date
that
you
want,
or
a
commitment
from
us
to
say
that
we
will
meet
to
confirm
and
have
made
those
decisions.
Okay,
is
that
a
fair
statement?
Yep
all
right?
That's
number
one
number
two:
where
are
you
guys
at
on
and
a
big
issue
I
got
jumped
in
though,
and
the
hallway
was
registered
to
vote
and
people
being
Philadelphia
citizens?
What,
where
are
you
generally
one
thing
so.
C
One
of
the
issues
with
that
is
that
our
Department
and
I
can
call
dinner
or
Jim
angler
up
here
to
talk
about
the
legal
aspects
of
this,
but
that
our
appointments
to
the
board
are
still
subject
to
the
school
code
to
the
state
school
code,
which
requires
that
appointees
be
a
citizen
of
the
Commonwealth.
And
so
that
means
that
we
feel
that
we
don't
have
an
option
to
take
a
different
interpretation
of
that.
Because
it's
laid
out
through
the
state
school
code.
Not.
D
C
A
C
So
there
are
some
pretty
clear
criteria
laid
out
in
a
current
charter
which
indicate
that
the
rub
that
there
should
be
nine
people
on
that
which
are
representative
of
various
types
of
organizations.
So,
for
instance,
one
of
those
is
a
Chamber
of
Commerce
type
organization
and
a
number
of
other
different
types
of
community
and
neighborhood
organizations.
They're
laid
out
for
the
nine
folks
there
and
then
there's
sort,
there's
four
folks
on
the
nominating
panel
that
can
be
sort
of
anybody
without
having
to
fill
those
specific
qualifications.
C
In
order
for
anybody
to
reach
out,
it
would
be
similar
to
any
other
board
appointment
on
that
falls
under
the
the
mayor
and
the
executive
branch
which
would
be
just
sending
in
something
to
the
mayor's
office
or
anybody
on
our
staff
with
a
recommend
recommendation
or
inquiry.
When
we
move
forward
to
the
Board
of
Education,
where
there
are
not
those
specific
type
of
organizational
criteria
and
we're,
obviously
those
folks
will
be
serving
for
a
longer
term.
C
C
A
E
This
morning,
I
come
to
speak
as
in
my
role
as
vice
chair
of
the
City
Council
Committee
on
education
and
so
I
need
to
first
say
thank
you
to
chairman
Greenlee
and
the
members
of
the
law
and
government
committee
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
on
this
important
and,
quite
frankly,
historic
legislation
regarding
the
future
of
our
school
district.
With
the
end
of
the
school
reform
commission,
we
find
ourselves
at
a
once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity
to
get
this
process
right
over
the
fall.
E
My
staff
and
I
have
met
with
several
groups
to
hear
and
learn
recommendations
on
how
best
to
set
up
the
school
board
so
to
ensure
maximum
accountability
to
the
students
in
Paris
at
the
district
serves.
One
of
the
ideas
that
has
repeated
itself
has
been
the
importance
of
having
parent
participation,
representation.
And/Or
a
parent
advocate
on
the
board,
as
is
the
custom
in
our
office.
We've
done
the
research
on
best
practices
around
the
country.
We
learned
that
reserving
a
seat
for
a
parent
on
a
school
board
is
now
one
of
the
best
practices.
E
Six
states
and
the
District
of
Columbia
have
passed
legislation
to
require
parent
representational
and
their
school
boards.
Those
states
includes
Connecticut
Delaware,
Hawaii,
New,
Hampshire,
Tennessee
and
Virginia.
What
are
the
reasons
why
having
a
parent
seat
makes
sense?
First,
a
parent
seat
ensures
that
at
least
one
person
on
the
school
board
has
an
intimate
relationship
with
the
current
workings
of
the
school
district
through
the
experience
of
their
own
child.
You
simply
cannot
replace
first-hand
experience.
E
Second,
when
you
reserve
a
seat
for
a
parent
other
parents,
students,
elected
officials
and
the
media
will
look
to
that
person
to
advocate
for
parents,
while
they're
serving
in
that
capacity.
An
elevated
platform
for
a
parent
to
raise
both
parent
and
student
concerns
can
be
a
game
changer.
My
staff
and
I
are
convinced
by
the
research
and
the
logic
on
this
and
actually
considered
drafting
legislation
to
require
a
parent
seat
on
the
nine-member
board
and
conferring
with
my
colleagues
and
speaking
with
my
staff
and
a
number
of
others.
E
We
have
the
faith
that
the
mayor
and
the
nominating
committee
that
will
be
selected
by
the
mayor
and
conferred
by
members
of
council
will
understand
how
important
parent
advocacy
is
for
a
high
functioning
accountable
board
with
the
proposed
part
of
change
charter
change.
Now
authoring,
City
Council
oversight
know
that
we
will
be
paying
particular
attention
to
the
ability
of
nominated
members
to
represent
all
the
interests
of
both
the
students
and
the
parents,
and
I
join
my
colleagues
and
looking
forward
to
the
mayor's
selections.
E
C
Well,
so
just
a
eligibility
for
the
board
membership
is
currently
laid
out,
has
really
three
qualifications
laid
out.
The
first
is
being
the
parent
of
a
current
or
a
former
public
school
suit
student.
The
second
is
having
training
or
experience
in
the
areas
of
business,
finance,
education,
public
housing
or
community
affairs,
and
the
third
is
any
other
such
training
or
expertise
relative
to
the
beneficial
operations
of
the
school
system.
C
F
You,
chairman
Greenlee
Thank,
You
council
and
Len
Evans
Graham
for
your
commentary
regarding
parent
involvement
as
a
parent
of
a
child
in
a
school
district.
I
think
that
level
of
Obama
is
very
important.
Mr.
Loffler
I
wanted
to
talk
with
you
and
mr.
Haack
name
reference
to
Trenton
a
CEO
transparency.
F
You
talked
earlier
about
the
process
of
names
coming
to
the
education
educational
nominating
panel,
but
my
question
is
and
regarding
the
transparency
of
how
they're
going
to
do
their
work
when
it
come
up
and
provide
a
list
of
names
of
the
27
individuals
to
the
mayor,
will
there
be
any
type
of
public
meeting
public
discussions
or
ability
for
the
public
to
know
how
they're
going
to
deliberate
and
receive
that
information?
Yes,.
C
So
we're
still
working
through
some
of
the
rules
of
procedure
to
be
laid
out
for
the
nominating
panel,
which
we
would
ultimately
also
discuss
with
the
chair
of
the
panel,
who
will
really
be
responsible
for
that.
I.
Think
that
it's
incredibly
important
with
us
with
an
issue
of
this
importance
that
people
do
not
have
any
questions
about
how
decisions
are
made
and
what
the
process
is
so
I
expect
at
the
time
that
we
lay
out.
D
F
So
that
way,
the
public
has
full
transparency
and
all
the
information
they
need.
Regarding
that
information,
so
where
we
have
an
open
process.
So
if
you
will
have
better
comfort
and
regarding
the
people
who
are
going
to
be
leading
our
school
district,
going
forward
from
a
board
perspective,
especially
for
parents
like
myself
to
make
sure
we
have
understanding
what's
going
and
how
these
individuals
are
selected.
C
D
C
Current
SRC
members
could
are
not
precluded
from
a
future
appointment
on
to
the
new
Board
of
Education.
The
main
issue
is
that
current
SRC
board
members
cannot
be
cannot
seek
another
public
office
while
currently
being
an
SRC
member
because
of
the
requirements
of
the
SRC,
so
they
would
not
be
able
to
seek
office
until
the
end
of
their
tenure
that
would
not
preclude
the
nominating
panel
from
considering
them
for
appointment
or
from
them
being
appointed
after
July,
1st
or
the
date
of
their
resignation
from
the
SRC.
F
A
While
she
is
coming
up
first,
just
let
the
record
reflect
councilman
Oh,
a
member
of
the
committee
as
president
and
while
she's
coming
up.
If
I
could
just
tell
everybody,
we
have
a
fairly
extensive
list
of
people
who
want
to
speak
so
to
be
fair
to
everybody,
so
that
people
aren't
sitting
here
for
hours.
We're
asking
everybody
to
limit
their
testimony
to
about
three
to
five
minutes,
with
emphasis
on
three
okay,
so
we
can
try
to
be
try
to
move
along.
A
If
you
have
written
testimony
and
a
lot
of
people
have
given
in
written
testimony,
you
don't
have
to
sit
there
and
read
the
testimony
that
will
be
made
part
of
the
record.
If
you
could
summarize
your
statements
and
then
be
available
for
questions
just
so
again,
so
we
can
move
the
process
along
because
sometimes
we
have
people
that
just
can't
wait
two
three
hours
to
speak.
So
we
want
to
be
fair
to
everybody.
With
that.
Please
identify
yourself
approximately.
H
A
H
Supports
the
Home
Rule
Charter
change
that
gives
the
City
Council
a
greater
role
in
improving
members
of
a
school
board.
Over
the
years,
members
of
City
Council
have
stood
beside
Philadelphia's
educators,
parents
and
students
in
calling
for
an
end
to
state
control
of
our
schools.
So
it's
only
right
that
the
body
play
a
significant
role
in
determining
the
next
school
board.
So
as
the
process
moves
forward,
I
simply
wanted
to
outline
a
four
point
platform
that
we
have
developed
at
the
PFT
for
qualifications
for
the
new
school
board
members.
H
First,
we
believe
that
school
board
members
should
be
committed
to
advocating
for
neighborhood
public
schools
as
the
center
of
community,
and
this
is
something
that
Mayor
Kenny
and
members
of
City
Council
have
really
fought
for
to
recognize
that
community
schools
and
neighborhood
public
schools
should
be
the
center
of
community
and
every
child
should
have
access
to
an
excellent
neighborhood
public
school,
and
that
means
fully
funding
them
to
the
school
board.
Members
should
reflect
the
diversity
of
our
great
city,
and
that
should
be
a
diversity
that
is
racial
diversity,
ethnic
diversity,
cultural
diversity.
H
Third,
we
believe
that
school
board
members
should
demonstrate
a
deep
understanding
of
the
issues
that
affect
public
school
children
and
staff,
and
that
should
be
encompassing
the
voice
of
educators
and
parents,
because
they
are
the
ones
that
live.
The
public
education
experience
every
day
and
know
the
nuances
and
understand
the
significance
of
the
various
components
of
funding
and
what
types
of
pedagogy
should
be
unfolding
in
the
classroom.
Parents
and
educators
are
really
experts
on
that
and,
finally,
and
most
critically
school
board.
Members
should
actively
pursue
fair
and
equitable
funding
for
our
schools.
H
It
is
perhaps
a
misconception
that,
because
we
are
moving
back
to
local
control,
that
Harrisburg
is
now
off
the
hook.
That
could
not
be
further
from
the
truth.
There
are
499
other
school
districts
that
have
local
control,
that
Harrisburg
is
required
to
fund
and
in
fact
the
state
constitution
has
a
thorough
and
efficient
Clause
which
is
being
litigated
now
in
the
courts.
H
But
the
state
constitution
does
have
a
thorough
and
efficient
clause
which
requires
that
we
adequately
fund
our
schools
and
that
is
not
going
away
and
it's
something
that
school
board
members
should
really
truly
be
committed
to
fighting
for
and
pursuing.
So
we've
submitted
copies
of
our
testimony.
We've
also
submitted
our
platform,
and
we
really
thank
you
for
your
ongoing
interest
in
what's
going
on
in
our
neighborhood
public
schools
and
your
ongoing
commitment
to
fighting
for
kids
and
families,
because
that
is
our
path
forward
as
a
city.
Thank
you.
Okay,.
A
H
H
A
J
J
H
H
We
have
not
taken
a
position
on
the
ARS.
You
know
our
strongest
points
are
the
ones
that
we
outlined
today,
and
we
really
believe
that
advocates
for
public
schools
and
experts
from
public
schools
can
come
from.
You
know
not
having
a
formal
education
to
having
a
doctorate
there's.
They
run
the
gamut
so
I.
We
do
not
have
a
position
on
that
amendment
at
this
at
this
moment,
but
I'm
certainly
willing
to
look
over
it
and
talk
to
Gerry
and
the
team
at
the
PFT.
J
Thank
you
very
much.
I
know
it
is
a
very
democratic
idea
that
everybody
is
equal
in
this
country.
I
just
don't
find
that
to
be
proven
by
best
practices
or
anything
I.
Just
see
that,
while
you
can
have
all
kinds
of
people
on
your
school
board,
you
really
do
need
education,
professionals
and
I'm
very
concerned
when
boards
consist
of
people
who
don't
know
more
than
the
superintendent
and
his
administration,
they
are
not
clear
on
what
the
administration
of
the
school
is.
J
The
management
of
the
school
is
the
the
standards
of
educational
theories
and
things
like
that
I
happen
to
respect
people
who
have
spent
I
spent
a
good
portion
of
their
time,
studying
education,
getting
advanced
degrees
and
being
committed
to
the
profession.
That's
my
position
and
so
I
appreciate
your
position.
J
The
next
thing
is
that
I
have,
as
you
know,
introduced
a
bill
to
withdraw
from
the
parking
authority
the
functions
of
on
street
parking,
and
at
this
time
we
just
passed
a
resolution
you're
urging
the
governor,
the
mayor
and
the
General
Assembly
to
return
to
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
the
control
and
the
revenues
of
the
parking
authority,
which
I
think
is
very
needed
to
fund
our
schools.
What
is
the
PFDs
position
on
that.
H
H
I'm
gonna
give
you
the
same
answer.
I
gave
you
two
the
last
one,
which
is
we
have
not
taken
a
position
on
it.
I
believe
that
there
are.
You
know
that
there's
a
lot
of
nuance
there
in
the
parking
authority.
I,
don't
know
enough
about
the
legislation
that
you
have
introduced
to
say.
You
know
to
give
you
our
initial
thoughts
on
it
today.
It's
something
that
I
will
definitely
talk
to
with
Gerry.
You
talked
to
with
our
Executive
Board,
and
we
will.
You
know
we're
of
course
open
to
looking
into
it
more
absolutely.
Please.
J
As
you
know,
they
took
over
our
parking
authority
when
they
took
over
the
school
district
right
and
their
basic
claim
is
that
the
money
was
needed
to
fund
our
schools
at
the
time
they
said
45
million
per
year
right
up
to,
but
in
court
they
testified
that
schools
would
get
forty
five
million
per
year
and
we
have
not
gotten
that
or
we
would
have
gotten
seven
hundred
twenty
million
dollars
from
the
parking
authority
to
date.
We
have
come
nowhere.
J
H
J
Looks
like
we're
going
to
increase
taxes
in
this
city,
which
I
think
is,
would
be
very
difficult
on
a
lot
of
our
senior
citizens.
People
on
a
fixed
income,
homeowners
who've,
inherited
their
homes
and
cannot
afford
these
tax
increases.
So
the
parking
authority
to
me
rightfully
belongs
with
the
city,
is
unconstitutionally
taken
over
and
we've
already
lost
a
lot
of
revenues
and
we're
not
getting
funded
to
the
degree
from
the
state
that
we
would
have
if
we
simply
had
the
parking
authority
with
us
in
addition
to
whatever
funds
they've
given
us.
Thank
you
very
much.
J
H
That
is
something
that
is,
should
be
easy
to
do,
but
unfortunately
politics
happen,
and
it
has
not.
You
know,
unfolded
so
I.
Think
that
there
are.
You
know,
I,
definitely
appreciate
the
interest
that
you
have
in
the
parking
authority
returning
it
to
local
control.
I
think
that
there
are,
we
should
be
fighting
for
a
shale
tax,
I
appreciate.
J
D
D
Only
qualified
to
work
at
fast-food,
we
have
to
take
a
deeper
dive
on
the
side
of
how
this
translates
into
a
better
education.
I'm
gonna
need
to
hear
more
of
that
from
folks,
not
just
worried
about
who
controls
the
resources
and
I
do
appreciate
how
we
get
the
money,
absolutely
I
care
about,
whether
how
we
derive
a
predictable
funding
source
for
them,
but
at
the
end
of
the
day,
what
I
need
to
hear
about
is
that
graduation
rates
will
increase.
I
want
to
hear
about
that.
D
The
outcomes
post
graduation
are
better
yep
I
want
to
hear
about
young
people
actually
stay
in
the
area
more
often
than
they
do
now,
and,
and
those
are
the
things
that
I
care
about
who?
What
Charla?
That
stuff
is
fine.
But
if
we're
not
talking
about
that,
then
we're
not
talking
about
much
so
councilman.
H
He
is
17
now
and
has
now
just
been
placed
in
a
location.
That's
seven
hours
away
from
his
family.
His
mom
is
fighting
for
him,
like
you,
wouldn't
believe,
and
we
as
a
society
have
failed
Elijah.
So
the
work
that
we
do,
the
work
that
I
do
every
day
is
for
Elijah
it's
for
all
of
the
Elijah's
that
were
fighting
for
every
single
day.
H
We
are
now
going
to
be
dealing
with
the
aftermath
of
not
helping
Elijah
when
he
was
five
for
the
rest
of
his
life
and
when
we
talk
about
experts
and
when
we
talk
about
practitioners,
we
need
people
who
have
been
educating
Elijah,
who
have
been
in
Elijah's
life
doing
this
work.
This
is
why
we
do
it
when,
when
Elijah
came
in
with
the
prison
guards
in
his
family
court
hearing
and
turned
around
saw
my
face.
H
The
smile
on
that
child's
face
was
the
same
smile
that
he
had
when
he
was
five.
He
mouthed
to
me,
I,
remember
you
and
he
got
up
at
the
end
of
the
hearing
after
it
was
a
very
you,
know,
gruff,
and
it
was
this
and
it
was
that
and
it
was
boom
boom
boom.
You
wait
for
hours
here.
You
have
a
hearing
for
nine
minutes,
he
turns
around
and
he
just
smiled
that
means
I'm
by
myself,
and
these
are
the
kids
that
were
fighting
for.
H
So
when
we're
talking
about
a
school
board,
we're
talking
about
a
commitment
as
a
city
to
fighting
for
Elijah,
because
right
now
we
have
colossal
II
failed
Elijah.
If
we
had
a
Community
School
where
he
was
in
school,
if
he
could
get
the
mental
health
care,
that
I
said
he
needed
when
he
was
five,
we
wouldn't
be
in
this
position,
so
we
have
to
invest
in
our
kids
on
the
front
end.
We
have
to
trust
the
educators.
H
We
have
to
trust
the
parents
when
Elijah
mom
went
away
for
a
time
she
continued
to
fight
for
him
as
soon
as
she
got
back.
She
was
right
there
in
the
school.
She
was
right
there
at
the
parent-teacher
conferences
and
that's
the
work
that
we're
doing
that's
the
work
that
his
mom
is
trying
to
do
for
him
to
this
day.
H
That's
the
work
that
we
all
need
to
be
doing,
and
so,
when
we're
talking
about
a
local
school
board,
we're
talking
about
I
think
a
broader
issue
of
being
locally
committed
to
fighting
for
every
single
Elijah
that
is
in
our
school
system
and
moving
that
agenda
forward.
So
when
I
think
of
the
agenda,
it's
in
a
kid
based
agenda,
so.
D
I
needed
done
really
needed
to
hear
that
this
multiplied
that
by
that
9600
other
Elijah's
that
have
been
up
on
State
Road.
We
know
on
that
those
9600
and
it's
been
reduced
since
we've
been
involved,
come
from
11
of
the
48
zip
codes
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
48,
zip
codes,
11
of
them
occupied
90%
of
those
young
people,
and
the
irony
for
me
is
that
those
are
some
of
the
same
zip
codes.
We
closed,
23
schools,
absolutely
23
schools,
schools,
closing
jails
filling
and
we
so
all
of
this.
D
For
me,
you
know
where
you
get
the
money
from
who
controls
the
money.
At
the
end
of
the
day
when
I'm
sitting
there
I'm
gonna
be
looking
for
what
is
the
incremental
increase
in
positive
outcomes
for
the
Elijah's,
so
we
together
I
just
needed
to
hear
that
more
in
this
discussion
this
morning,
Thank
You
mr.
F
You
mr.
chair,
thank
you
for
your
testimony,
your
heartfelt
testimony
this
morning
and
giving
us
a
real
focus
on
this
issue.
Looking
at
your
testimony
and
the
bullet
points,
you
talked
about
point
number,
four,
that
school
board
members
should
actually
pursue
fair
and
equitable
for
our
schools,
and
you
make
reference
to
this.
Activism
is
particularly
significant
at
the
state
legislative
side,
one
of
the
issues
and
when
you
talk
about
the
elijan
councilman
Jones
talking
about
23
schools
being
closed,
those
schools
were
closed
due
to
a
lack
of
resources
and
I.
F
Think
and
listen
to
the
conversation
today,
we
have
to
remember
that
under
our
state
constitution,
I
believe,
is
article
3,
section
14.
It's
the
responsibility
of
the
General
Assembly
to
provide
a
fair
and
thorough
system
of
education
for
the
citizens
of
the
Commonwealth
of
Philadelphia
of
tamil
defensive
vania.
Sometimes
people
forget
that
Philadelphia
is
in
the
Commonwealth
Pennsylvania.
So
from
that
perspective,
what
type
of
stuff
do
you
think
school
board
members
should
take
in
reference
to
advocating
for
additional
funding?
I?
Think.
H
It
can
be
particularly,
it
can
definitely
be
challenging
because
you
have
the
Philly
delegation
in
Harrisburg
that
gets
it
that
sees
it
I
believe
that
I
think
that
we
have
to
have
difficult
conversations
with
legislators
across
the
state.
I
think
that
we
should
be
working
towards
building
coalitions
with
other
school
boards,
so
I
think
that
it
would
be
really
it
would
behoove
a
new
school
board
to
be
working
with
other
boards
that
have
had
funding
challenges.
To
talk
to
you
know,
members
of
those
boards
see
how
they
have
advocated
in
for
their
state
legislators.
I.
H
Think
that
we
should
look
at
you
know,
look
at
certain
legislators
whose
voting
record
shows
that
they
do
not
have
a
significant
commitment
to
funding
education,
talk
to
those
legislators,
but
also
talk
to
the
public
school
communities
in
those
districts
and
see
okay.
Well,
where
there
is
a
serious
disconnect
here
between
what
your
legislature
is
voting
on,
and
what
your
school
district
needs
and
I
think
that
it's
not
going
to
be
easy.
But
I
think
that
there,
when,
when
we
say
commitment,
we
mean
more
than
saying
yep
we're
for
funding.
F
Despised
gonna
make
unfortunately
based
on
past
track
record
I,
don't
believe
the
General
Assembly,
the
current
leadership,
the
General
Assembly
really
has
that
belief
or
thought
regarding
the
citizens
of
the
city
of
foot,
often
and
the
future
of
our
Commonwealth
and
our
city
in
reference
to
providing
fair
funding
and
unfortunate.
We're
gonna
have
to
make
some
hard
decisions
and
I
think
it's
incumbent
upon
us
for
those
who
are
really
committed
to
education,
to
make
those
decisions
and
come
up
with
real
funding,
ideas
and
concepts
based
on
real
proposals
and
not
suggested
ideas.
H
A
H
We
definitely
you
know,
we
have
good
relationships
with
their
leadership
and
we
talked
to
them
frequently,
particularly
when
issues
like
a
shale
tax
come
up
or
when
issues
that
you
know
when
the
PFT
Philadelphia
Federation
of
Teachers.
We
have
just
the
teachers
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
our
parent
organization,
aft
PA
has
other
locals,
primarily
the
aft
represents
cities
and
the
NEA
represents.
H
You
know
the
counties,
so
we
work
significantly
with
other
aft
PA
locals,
so
they
are
in
Pittsburgh
and
hots
town,
there's
a
few
other
in
Scranton,
and
we
do
work
with
the
PSC
a
leadership
and
try
to
you
know
collaborate
with
them
when
we
can
absolutely
because
that
is
very
important,
particularly
in
building
those
coalition's
and
moving.
Some
of
those
legislators
towards
fair
and
equitable
funding.
Yeah.
A
J
Councilman
ell,
thank
you
very
much
chairman
you
know.
I
would
like
to
ask
you
to
consider
a
point.
Number
five
I
do
hear
a
lot
about
full
and
fair
funding
and
I
agree
on
a
percent.
However,
I'm
very
concerned
that
in
Philadelphia
there
isn't
full
and
fair
funding
distribution
in
our
city.
Some
schools
get
a
lot
more
and
some
schools
get
a
lot
less
and
it's
always
been
the
case
in
Philadelphia.
J
I
would
love
to
see
as
0.5
that
we
could
make
up
the
difference
of
funding
shortages
that
has
historically
occurred
in
certain
schools
and
then
level
off
to
ensure
that
all
schools
have
a
fair
level
of
funding
throughout
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
If
I
were
to
Gander
a
guess
right
now,
I
would
say
if
the
average
per
student
in
Philadelphia
is
12
or
for
14,000
that
if
I
looked
at
different
sections
of
the
city
based
on
schools,
some
school
students
are
getting
18,000
and
some
schools
are
first
in
are
getting
8,000.
J
It's
not
very
fair
in
this
city
and
it
really
limits
the
opportunities
to
address
exactly
what
councilman
Jones
is
talking
about
that
school
to
Prison
Pipeline
and
those
type
of
things.
I
will
say
that
I
do
think.
That's
why
the
leadership
issue
is
important.
I've
heard
from
some
people
that
leadership
does
not.
J
That
does
not
make
that
much
of
a
difference
and
I'm
talking
about
some
some
of
the
school
folks
and
I
would
say
they're
only
looking
at
you
know,
elected
versus
appointed
in
general
they're,
not
looking
at
the
quality
of
those
who
serve
whether
elected
or
appointed.
It
makes
a
difference.
Who's
in
leadership,
I
think
everybody
would
agree
whether
one
way
or
the
other
that
whose
President
of
the
United
States
has
made
a
difference,
and
it
makes
a
difference.
You
know
who's
the
District
Attorney
of
Philadelphia
and
I
think
equally.
J
It
makes
quite
a
bit
of
difference
who
is
running
our
schools
and
what
their
vision
is
and
how
well
they're
able
to
chief
their
goals
and
and
with
that,
the
best
chance
for
improving
outcomes.
Is
it
to
ensure
that
all
these
these
things
can
occur?
So
please
consider
a
point
number
five.
Thank
you.
Let's.
A
A
A
A
K
K
Good
morning,
thank
you
so
much
city
council
members
for
the
work
that
you
do
every
day
on
behalf
of
families,
my
name
is
Anna
purring
I'm,
a
parent
of
two
disabled
children.
My
son
attends
public
school
in
Philadelphia,
I,
also
co-founded
a
support
group
for
immigrant
families
with
children
with
disabilities.
You
have
my
written
testimony.
I'll
summarize
it
very
quickly,
but.
K
Immigrant
parents
are
expected
to
sign
papers
that
they
don't
understand
because
we're
not
providing
them
with
interpreters
and
in
the
worst
performing
schools.
There
are
kids
in
classrooms
with
disabilities.
You
know
30
percent
in
the
worst
performing
schools,
and
these
are
students
of
color,
predominantly
so.
K
Why
what
does
it
say
about
us
when
we're
enriching
people
to
fight
our
own
disabled
children
in
this
city,
our
school
district
has
become
an
ATM
for
private
eyes,
errs
big
law
firms,
corporate
interests,
our
students
should
not
be
guinea,
pigs
for
researchers
and,
while
I
thank
the
ESRC
for
its
service.
Its
existence
has
created
a
vacuum
for
accountability
for
it.
When
it
comes
to
our
students,
civil
rights
I
commend
mayor
Kenney
for
being
accountable
for
a
public
education
and
proposing
a
way
forward
to
some.
K
This
is
a
cynical
game,
a
notch
on
a
resume
or
their
political
aspirations,
but
for
children
like
mine
and
families
across
the
city,
a
school
board
where
people
who
lack
campaign,
financing
and
political
capital
to
run
for
office
is
our
only
chance
of
representation
to
fix
our
broken
special
education
system
and
after
16
years
of
sharing
our
stories
and
being
ignored.
Families
like
mine
do
deserve
to
have
a
voice
on
the
new
school
board.
President
Obama
has
often
quoted
dr.
K
A
L
Morning
my
name
is
William
Jackson
I
am
a
parent
here
in
Philadelphia,
with
kids
to
go
to
mastery
school
I.
Do
understand
that
the
council
wants
me
to
be
quick,
but
I
cannot
abbreviate
my
message
because
it
represents
thousands
of
families
so
I'm
just
wanting
give
it
to
you
straight.
I
live
within
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
All
my
life
got
five
kids
to
go
to
mastery
Wooster
and
a
pickie
campuses.
I
voted
for
the
mayor.
I
like
him.
L
I,
like
a
smile,
I,
think
he's
a
good
guy
so
when
he
lays
out
his
vision
in
October
that
there
would
be
a
new
school
board
and
that
that's
board
wanted
and
needed
high
quality
schools
in
every
neighborhood,
no
matter
whether
they're
charter
or
district
I
applaud
it
I'm
here
this
morning
to
remind
the
committee
of
the
mayor's
promise
to
make
sure
that
all
new
school
board
represents
the
public
schools.
That
means
all
of
our
kids,
all
of
the
students
that
attend
public
charter
schools
and
all
of
the
kids
that
attend
district
schools.
L
There
is
no
place
in
the
school
board
in
this
new
school
board
for
people
who
are
trying
to
tear
down
the
district.
It
works
for
thousands
of
families.
Thousands
of
poor
families
I'm
here
to
tell
everyone.
Mastery
is
taking
schools
like
Schumaker
and
pick
it
and
booster,
some
of
the
most
depressed
and
most
violent
schools
in
the
city
and
it
they're
turning
them
into
the
halls
of
learning
platforms
for
discovery
and
and
beacons
of
Hope.
L
Does
anyone
know
how
hard
that
is
to
create
in
the
ghetto
discovery
and
hope
mastery
says
our
kids
to
college
master
graduates
compete
college
at
a
college
level
three
times
national
compared
to
their
peers?
That's
three
times
the
national
average.
Let
me
say
that
again,
mastery
graduates
compete
complete
college
at
three
times
the
national
average
three
times
the
national
average.
That
means
these
young
men
are
not
going
to
prison.
They're
going
to
school
they're
going
to
work,
they're
doing
different
things
in
their
community
other
than
tearing
it
down
and
behind
every
mastery
school.
L
Power
leaders
who
are
advocating
for
their
neighborhoods
and
we
descended
on
City
Hall.
Last
week
we
met
with
13
of
of
our
council
members,
we're
still
trying
to
catch
up
with
the
last
four
we'll
catch.
You
we're
personally
surprised
to
find
that
City,
Council
members
see
us
and
recognize
us.
We
asked
each
council
member
to
stand
with
us
and
efforts
to
get
a
fair
renewal
contract
for
our
schools
and
to
ensure
a
fair,
competent
squirrel
board.
L
Every
member
we
meet
was
committed
to
work
and
to
ensure
that
the
new
school
board
represent
all
of
our
school
students,
charter
and
Vista
alike.
We
intend
to
hold
the
mayor
and
city
council
to
your
word,
a
new
school
board
that
represents
and
respects
and
understands
all
of
us
all
of
us.
We
understand
that
today's
action
is
simply
to
put
a
resolution
on
the
ballot
to
give
the
council
the
authority
to
approve
the
mayor's
appointments.
We
are
here
this
morning
to
make
a
statement.
L
A
A
I
Morning
councilmembers,
my
name
is
Elizabeth
Moffat
and
I'd
like
to
thank
you
for
allowing
me
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
this
morning.
There
are
many
changes
ahead
for
the
school
district
that
will
dramatically
impact
Philadelphia
students
as
early
as
the
2018
19
academic
year,
as
this
body
considers
changes
that
will
affect
how
school
board
members
are
selected
as
a
parent
and
grandparent
who
has
struggled
to
educate
children
in
Philadelphia
I
applaud
your
efforts
to
make
sure
that
board
members
are
vetted
or
well
vetted
and
meet
approval
of
council,
as
well
as
the
mayor
I'm.
I
Also
here
asking
that
this
body
and
those
who
ultimately
make
the
final
decision
on
board
members
be
mindful
that
all
public
school
choice
options
be
represented
over
the
years
I've
spoken
in
Harrisburg
before
the
SRC,
and
also
before
this
body
regarding
special
education
and
quality
education.
On
behalf
of
my
grandson,
who
is
now
a
senior
at
masteries,
shoemaker
campus,
he,
like
many
of
his
classmates,
has
struggled
to
succeed
academically.
I
One
of
the
main
reasons
for
this
was
the
tangle
of
policies
that
existed
in
district
schools
that
delayed
changes
that
could
quickly
help
these
students
make
academic
gains.
Mastery
has
successfully
turned
around
many
chronically
failing
schools
and
the
results
for
my
grandson
and
other
children
are
what
bring
me
here
today.
I
would
like
to
share
with
you
some
of
the
incredibly
positive
results
that
masteries
Renaissance
charter
turnaround
have
had.
I
We
believe
that
this
is
a
part
of
the
solution
that
any
new
school
board
would
need
to
embrace,
and
there
was
an
attachment
with
my
testimony,
a
chart
that
shows
the
progress
of
the
schools
to
turnaround
schools
that
masterÃs
has
run.
As
you
can
see,
there's
been
incredible
growth
in
student
achievement
in
every
school.
I
My
grandson
attended,
Mann
Elementary
prior
to
the
turnaround,
and
after
so
I'm
speaking
from
first-hand
experience,
you
can
see
that
at
men,
math
and
reading
proficiency
rates
have
more
than
doubled,
with
the
school
now
above
80
percentile,
compared
with
other
district
schools
serving
similar
grades.
Other
schools
like
Smedley
and
Frankfort
the
results
are
even
more
dramatic
with
seven
times
the
number
of
students
reaching
proficiency
taking
the
school
from
the
bottom
10%
of
schools
to
the
top
75
in
reading
and
65%
of
math.
So
this
is
not
just
my
story.
I
This
is
a
story
for
tens
of
thousands
of
families,
our
neighborhood
schools.
These
mastery
turnarounds
are
working
for
our
kids
over
the
years.
Many
changes
in
the
school
district
have
been
made
with
little
input
from
the
stakeholders
most
affected
by
these
changes,
namely
our
children
and
the
parents,
who
must
choose
what's
best
for
them
and
that's
why
we're
here
speaking
now
for
fair
representation
for
all
school
choices
during
all
phases
of
this
process?
Not
after
the
process
has
been
completed,
our
children
don't
get
do-overs.
I
F
You
chairman
Greenlee
I,
want
to
thank
I,
miss
fern
mr.
Jackson,
miss
Moffat
for
your
advocacy,
we're
going
these
issues.
I
know
miss
fern
you've
been
an
advocate
regarding
issues
with
autism,
both
at
the
local
state
and
national
level,
and
I
want
to
ask
some
questions
to
both.
You
miss
fern
into
mr.
Jackson,
miss
Moffat
with
a
new
with
local
control.
What
type
of
changes
would
you
like
to
see
in
reference
to
the
school
district
regarding
disabilities
and
advocacy,
retina,
Garden,
autism
and
other
type
of
services,
and
then
for
mr.
Jackson?
F
L
Well,
with
looking
at
40
with
over
40
to
43
percent
of
the
children
going
to
school
in
Philadelphia
going
to
charter
schools,
we
would
just
like
to
see
fairness
in
our
upcoming
contracts.
There
are
a
lot
of
oppressive
terms
in
there
that
are
going
to
destroy
mastery
charter.
School
and
I
have
a
very
personal
personal
story
connected
to
mastery.
L
My
son
I
mean
Jackson
is
a
16
year
old
young
man
who
had
a
lot
of
struggles
in
school
I've,
taken
him
everywhere
from
parochial
school
private
school
and
to
public
school,
but
he
only
was
able
to
thrive
and
in
charter
school
and
a
mastery
and
and
believe
you
me
that
mastery
charter
is
so
much
different
from
other
charter
schools,
but
we
would
really
like
to
see
a
fair
contract.
We
would
like
to
see
what
works
for
low-income,
African
Americans
here
in
Philadelphia.
I
And
I
just
like
to,
as
you
said,
I'm
you're
speaking
about
children
with
special
needs.
My
grandson
also
is
autistic,
and
so
just
to
give
you
that
comparison
story,
he
started
out
in
district
schools.
He
was
extremely
underserved
extremely
to
the
point
where,
by
the
time
he
was
in
fifth
grade,
my
daughter
and
I
were
worrying
about.
Where
would
he
go?
We
couldn't
even
really
see
high
school
for
him.
He's
in
like
fifth
grade
he's,
not
able
to
read
he's
not
able
to
write,
but
he
goes
to
school
every
day
and
he's
making
season.
I
Schools
and
I
know
that
part
of
it
is
because
the
more
children
you
take
with
IEP
s,
the
lower
your
scores
are
overall,
so
that
your
school,
when
it
compares
to
other
schools,
doesn't
stand
as
high.
So
you
reduce
the
population
of
IEP
children
and
your
scores
go
up,
but
once
I
reviewed
the
Charter
and
and
went
to
visit
the
schools
quickly
changed
my
mind.
There
was
so
many
things
that
were
offered
to
him
that
were
not
in
the
district
schools.
When
he
had
problems
with
his
IEP.
It
would
be
you
know.
I
First
of
all,
it
was
one
of
the
most
comprehensive
and
I
have
as
head
as
a
tutor
for
him,
a
teacher
who
was
a
special
ed
teacher
at
the
school
he
used
to
go
to
and
she
reviewed
it.
She
just
couldn't
believe
the
difference
in
in
the
evaluation
that
he
got
the
IEP
was
implemented
right.
Then,
then
he
evidence
changes
like
in
his
behavior
in
his
learning
pattern
and
he
was
having
a
great
deal
of
difficulty.
The
team
then
re-evaluated
him
made
adjustments
to
his
IEP
and
implemented
them
within
the
next
few
weeks.
I
I
didn't
have
to
wait
three
or
four
months.
I
didn't
have
to
wait
for
the
next
time
the
team
came
through.
So
all
that
time
when
children,
especially
children
with
special
needs,
have
to
wait
like
that.
That's
time
they
don't
get
back.
That's
time,
they're,
not
learning
all
that
to
say
that
now
he's
a
senior.
He
reads
for
pleasure.
He
writes
he's
able
to.
A
K
You
well
I
did
want
to
say
you
know:
councilman
oeq
spresso,
a
lot
of
concerns
about
fiscal
waste.
In
my
testimony
allude
to
the
fact
that
law
firms
are
given
essentially
blank
checks,
whatever
the
school
district
requests
the
ESRC
approved,
and
it
was
without
any
scrutiny
or
review
about
what
all
that
money
was
used
for
and
while
in
an
ideal
world,
I
would
like
to
believe
that
they
were
providing.
K
You
know,
you
know
compliance
training
on
civil
rights
legislation,
my
own
experience
and
that
of
families
across
the
city
is
that
we
were
being
battled
every
day
minute
by
minute,
for
whatever
therapies
our
kids
needed-
and
this
is
has
you
know
the
fact
is:
Philadelphia
County
has
less
students
with
disabilities
and
in
the
five
surrounding
counties
that
information
is
available.
It's
public
data
on
open-data,
filly
and
that
information
will
show
you.
K
Then
the
rankings
of
student
enrollment,
disabled
students,
don't
have
a
chance
at
going
to
good
quality
schools,
where
kids
can
eventually
graduate
and
get
jobs.
You
look
at
the
school
performance
ratings
and
progress
reports,
and
then
you
compare
that
to
the
enrollment
of
kids
with
disabilities.
It's
in
the
single
digits
and
that's
illegal.
The
naturally
occurring
rate
for
students
with
disabilities
in
school
should
be
12%.
K
So
if
you're,
a
top
public
school-
and
you
have
less
than
12
percent
I-
have
questions
about
where
you're
shipping,
your
kids,
to
I'm,
tired
of
having
our
families
fight
so
that
our
kids
can
go
to
our
neighborhood
schools.
The
fact
is,
no
child
should
be
separated
from
their
siblings
to
get
an
education.
It's
been
a
very
painful
process
for
our
families
and
I
think
that
there
needs
to
be
some
trimming
of
the
fat
when
it
comes
to
private
law
firms.
There
are
too
many
happy
customers.
K
There
are
too
many
cottage
industries
where
these
law
firms
are
presenting
at
conferences
about
how
to
screw
over
families
in
court
and
paint
us
in
the
worst
light.
So
my
suggestion
is
we
examine
that
law,
firm
budget
that
gets
approved
every
year
and
we
look
at
how
to
invest
that
in
special
education,
so
that
providers
can
actually
start
providing
the
services-
and
you
know,
as
the
pft
representative
alluded
to,
teachers
are
empowered
to
get
what
they
asked
for
for
their
kids
at
the
school
building
level.
K
The
way
things
are
right
now
you
have
to
get
approval
from
special,
ed
directors
in
440,
who
don't
see
those
kids
every
day,
and
you
have
meetings
where
the
people
who
know
that
child
every
single
day
every
single
class
period
are
not
empowered
to
ask
for
the
resources,
and
that
is
what
sets
up
an
us-versus-them
dynamic.
That
is
not
productive
and
it
cheats
our
children
out
of
the
futures
that
they
need,
and
the
last
thing
I'll
say,
is
that
the
school
to
Prison
Pipeline
is
real.
K
D
D
My
grandkids
now
go
to
public
charter
schools,
of
which
I
will
not
name
because
I
don't
want
to
do
that,
but
one
of
my
grandkids
is
special
because
she
is
on
that
spectrum
of
autism
I
talk
about
that
to
the
counselor,
because,
quite
frankly,
she
doesn't
know,
and
nobody
really
treats
her
any
differently,
but
she's
been
able
to
excel
from
where
she
was
to
where
she
is
now
to
be
that
kid.
That
is
not
ostracized
because
of
whatever
disability.
So
I
agree
with
you
at
the
end
of
the
day.
D
A
C
B
C
B
A
A
M
Just
last
year,
Cleveland
parents
identified
a
need
for
crossing
guards
at
major
intersections
near
the
schools,
and
we
organized
a
change
of
an
unwritten
policy,
and
this
is
discriminatory
practices
targeted
specifically
at
schools
and
against
our
children.
One
such
policy
was
police
departments
for
years,
but
been
denying
charter
schools
request
for
crossing
guards.
We
began
our
fight.
We
were
told
that
charter
schools
were
not
public
schools
and
they
were
not
entitled
to
have
our
kids
equally
as
safe
as
other
child.
Other
kids
that
attend
district
and
Catholic
schools,
renewing
its
practices,
unfair
and
police.
M
M
I'll
speak
for
more
than
12-thousand
Masri
charter
school
families,
who
now
only
want
their
kids
safe,
but
one
policies
that
proceeded
to
be
fair,
I
live
in
North,
Philly
I.
Don't
have
to
look
too
far
to
see
that
my
community
things
are
not
always
fair.
Many
times
promises
are
made
and
sometimes
they're
broken.
M
We
don't
want
this
to
happen
here.
Mary
Kenney
promised
that
the
new
school
board
will
represent
members
of
various
communities
and
trust
in
the
mayor
to
keep
his
promise
to
every
student
in
every
school,
whether
it
be
district
or
charter,
and
make
sure
that
the
new
school
board
speaks
for
everyone.
M
As
you
consider
this
resolution
to
the
council
to
gaited
council,
the
authority
to
approve
the
mayor
appoints
for
the
new
school
board,
be
mindful
of
the
tremendous
responsibility
that
counts
will
undertake
undertaking
to
do
the
right
thing
for
our
kids
across
every
part
of
the
city.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
E
The
long
government
committee,
my
name,
is
Kelly
Jones
I
am
a
parent
of
children
who
attend
Mass,
reclaimer
and
pick
a
campus
I
am
a
lifelong
resident
of
Philadelphia,
currently
living
in
foot
North
Philadelphia,
my
son,
my
mirror
is
in
his
senior
year
at
picot.
We
don't
know
which
college
he
will
it
says,
but
he
will
be
going
to
college.
He
talks
about
it
every
day.
I
share
his
excitement,
but
it's
exhausting
at
times
he
applied
to
LaSalle
University,
Bloomberg,
University's,
Berg,
University
and
many
other
colleges.
E
My
daughter
and
the
SIA
is
in
a
third
grade.
She
started
climber
and
Kenny
Orin
and
did
not
attend
any
other
schools
or
daycares
before
attending
school.
For
the
first
time
was
a
bit
of
a
challenge
but
I
like
how
to
teacher
that
mystery
embrace
her
and
help
her
transition.
As
a
student
she's,
a
straight-a
student
and
loves
going
to
school
I
agree
with
the
mayor
and
that
every
child
deserves
to
have
a
great
education
that
all
children,
whether
they
attend
public,
district
or
public
charter
schools,
should
be
represented
on
this
new
school
board.
E
So
that
is
why
I'm
here
this
morning
to
make
sure
that
we
that
we
move
through
this
transition
for
a
new
school
board
that
the
mayor
promised
and
the
promise
of
many
council
members
with
whom
we
have
met
is
kept
I
want
my
children
to
have
the
same
opportunity
as
a
child
that
it
sends
a
special
ed,
mid
school
I
want
my
children
to
attend
college
and
be
one
of
the
students.
The
mayor
said:
could
come
back
and
put
back
into
the
city
with
a
job
and
opportunity.
E
I
know
those
things
can
happen
because,
as
the
mayor
said,
the
buck
stops
here
with
him,
but
it
also
starts
with
me
and
other
parent
leaders
and
with
you,
no
more
finger-pointing
about
charter
versus
district.
It
is
important
that
this
new
board
understands
there
more
than
40%
of
all
public
school
students
in
Philadelphia
attend
public
charter
school
and
those
students
should
be
represented.
As
a
mayor,
Surry
parent
leader,
we
were,
we
simply
want
to
be
a
part
of
every
process
regarding
this
transition.
E
A
B
Good
morning
my
name
is
jute.
Hussain
and
I
am
a
Philadelphia
youth.
Commissioner,
as
I
am
a
product
of
the
Philadelphia
public
school
system.
I
am
honored
to
share
my
testimony
with
all
of
you
today.
In
order
to
serve
a
community.
One
must
understand
the
people
within
in
order
to
make
a
change.
You
need
the
people
to
stand
with
you
in
order
to
affect
change.
Leaders
must
verify
their
constituents.
Voices
are
heard
regarding
what
happens
within
their
community
in
order
to
ensure
that
our
city
thrives.
B
As
a
former
student
of
the
Philadelphia
public
school
system,
I
have
seen
firsthand
what
happens
when
teachers
are
not
well
equipped
to
educate
their
students.
I've
seen
what
happens
to
teachers
that
have
passion
to
teach
their
students
but
spend
days
worried
about
making
ends
meet
due
to
our
lack
of
contract.
With
with
this
mayor
appointed
board,
the
school
district
and
city
can
come
together
to
unite
all
resources.
This
then
allows
both
entities
to
collaborate
with
programs
that
are
already
formed
and
established,
bigger
and
greater
projects
that
benefit
us.
B
The
youth
underneath
this
established
charter,
we
find
numerous
pieces
of
information.
I
would
like
to
highlight
just
a
few.
The
Charter
is
clear
that
if
this
does
become
a
mayor
appointed
committee,
there
will
be
a
nominated
panel
that
includes
13
members
that
are
educated
about
the
Philadelphia
public
school
system.
This
panel
will
understand
the
needs
of
the
district
has,
as
well
as
the
potential
to
grow
and
evolve.
B
This
panel
will
include
members
from
Parent
Association
representatives
that
have
rallied
for
years
to
try
and
have
a
greater
say
on
their
children's
education,
who
better
to
understand
a
child's
needs
than
their
own
parents.
Furthermore,
it
is
necessary
that
we
have
a
youth
representative
present
on
the
proposed
panel,
because
there
can
be
no
decision
about
youth
without
the
youth.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
we
must
stand
side-by-side
because
the
mission
is
all
the
same.
Around
growth
growth
within
our
public
school
system
will
be
the
only
way
we
can
grow
as
a
community.
B
The
only
way
we
can
grow
as
a
city
I
see
Aniyah
as
a
commissioner
who
advocates
for
a
board
that
is
representative
of
the
constituents
that
they
will
service
while
do
not
solely
stand
here.
As
a
commissioner,
I
will
sustain
you
as
a
student
who
has
personally
experienced
a
textbook
crumbling
in
my
hands,
understanding
the
struggle
to
receive
an
adequate
and
representative
education
necessary
to
help
students.
Like
me,
succeed
in
our
all
goals
that
we
come
upon
in
life.
B
B
A
O
Good
morning
my
name
is
Julian
Sorelle
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
the
Philadelphia
Student
Union
I've,
submitted
testimony,
so
you
have
it
to
read,
but
I'm
actually
gonna
just
talk
briefly
more
to
the
specific
points
that
I
was
talking
about
in
the
testimony.
I
also
would
like
to
respond
to
some
of
the
comments
that
were
said
earlier.
O
I
think
we're
in
a
moment
now,
where,
for
16
years
not
only
has
SRC
been
in
power,
but
we've
had
several
students
who've
gone
to
schools
that
have
closed.
We
have
several
students
that
have
gone
to
schools
that
have
been
over
policed.
We
have
several
students
who
are
walking
around
with
school
records
that
have
suspensions
that
should
not
be
on
there
right
and
what
they've
been
told
for
more
than
a
decade
is
that
they
can
go
to
a
body
that
meets
once
a
month
to
be
able
to
voice
their
concerns
right.
O
So
I
want
you
to
think
about
students
who
have
aged
out
of
the
system
by
in
our
adults
and
are
looking
at
their
siblings,
who
are
looking
at
other
students
who
have
been
told
the
same
and
have
repeatedly
been
able
to
go
to
this
group.
So
when
we
talk
about
the
fact
that
the
SRC
was
dismantled,
I
think
that
is
a
victory,
but
those
of
us,
you
know
who
organize
who
do
this
work
and
there's
several
advocates
and
over
organizes
here.
O
The
fact
that
we
are
having
a
hearing
about
the
change
to
the
Charter
at
a
time
where
students
and
parents
cannot
be
here
I
think
is
a
bad
precedent,
so
I
want
to
start
with
putting
that
on
record.
I
understand
that
you
all
are
here
during
the
day,
but
if
we're
talking
about
a
school
system
right
and
I
thank
the
parents
and
students
who
are
here
today
because
they
felt
that
it
was
worth
the
sacrifice,
but
that
is
not
a
sacrifice
that
they
should
have
had
them
made
right.
O
So
I
wanted
to
start
with
that.
The
second
thing
that
I
wanted
to
start
with,
or
that
I
wanted
to
continue
with,
is
also
when
we're
framing
expertise
and
councilman
old
talked
about
earlier.
But
when
we
talked
about
expertise,
we
talked
about
masters
right.
We
talked
about
education
professionals,
we
don't
talk
about
the
students
who
literally
spend
the
majority
of
their
day
within
these
schools.
O
We
didn't
talk
about
the
parents
who
wait
for
their
children
to
get
home
wondering
if
they
had
a
good
day
wondering
right,
but
they
can't
be
sure,
because
they've
been
told
stories
again
and
again,
where
their
young
people's
input
is
not
being
brought
into
decision-making
right.
We
have
a
superintendent
who
was
allowed.
You
know
saying
a
lot
of
the
issues.
I
talked
about
to
happen
without
any
clear
accountability.
O
So
if
we
really
want
to
set
a
clear
precedent
moving
forward,
not
only
do
we
need
to
have
you
know
saying
a
clear
and
transparent
process,
but
we
also
need
to
be
mindful
of
who
is
on
these
board
and
who
are
we
actually
claiming
as
experts
I
would
say
that
students
are
there?
I
would
say
that
parents
make
the
best
advocates.
A
child
can
have
right.
I
would
also
say
that
it
is
fair
all
parents
to
be
on
there.
O
Understand
that
all
of
you
what
I
know
I'm
talking
about,
have
been
at
these
hearings
that
heard
these
issues.
So
when
we're
looking
at
being
able
to
create
a
school
board,
we
need
to
take
a
comprehensive
approach
to
doing
that,
and
not
just
putting
education,
preventive
professionals
on
there
who
understand
cost-benefit
analysis,
not
just
having
education
officials
on
there
who
understand
programs
that
actually
do
not
work.
But
let's
talk
to
the
people
who
are
actually
directly
impacted
by
these
systems
and
empower
that
right.
O
So
when
we
say
that
we
want
to
change
the
resolution,
I'd
like
to
be
able
to
make
sure
that
the
amendment
is
made,
so
we
can
include
parents
with
voting
power.
Having
them
on
this
board
is
not
enough
right.
We
need
to
make
sure
that
we're
bringing
in
immigrant
parents
to
make
sure
that
they
have
voting
power.
That
is
what
empowerment
is.
Thank
you
thank
you.
A
P
Now
that
the
SRC
is
dissolved,
there
is
room
for
reform,
with
consideration
for
the
new
board
to
thrive,
I'm
speaking
on
behalf
of
students
who
actually
to
seriously
consider
a
school
board
consisting
of
parents,
educators,
community
leaders,
students
as
well
as
undocumented
students
and
parents
who
all
have
equal
votes.
We
ask
that
you
prepare
the
registered
voter
clubs,
because
with
that
still
in
order,
students,
the
undocumented
people
and
people
who've
been
caught
in
the
justice
system.
Have
certain
conviction:
have
certain
convictions
we'll
continue
to
have
limited
access
to
many
opportunities?
P
The
school
board
will
provide
for
those
included
or
represented
by
it.
The
school.
The
student
voice
should
be
the
most
important
voice
with
the
power,
because
we
are
the
ones
experiencing
what
the
school
board
implements
and
with
our
input
the
board
will
be
missing.
Crucial
information,
such
as
how
the
environment
the
school
affects
us
and
whether
or
not
our
educational
needs
are
met.
The
president,
the
president
of
school,
police
and
quality
of
teaching
we
are
receiving.
P
We
can
speak
to
recommendations
on
how
each
of
these
issues
could
be
handled,
but
will
not
be
able
to
vote
on
these
recommendations
without
the
change
to
the
Charter.
Given
what
school
a
student
goes
to
can
be
looked
at
when
deciding
the
spot
on
the
board.
For
example,
I
know
that
central
is
a
more
academically
recognized
school
that
receives
funding,
and
we
also
have
alumni
who
support
us
financially.
P
However,
a
poor
neighborhood
schools
need
to
receive
more
funding
and
having
someone
on
the
board
from
one
of
these
schools
will
help
decide
what
assets
are
needed
and
provided.
These
schools
are
constantly
overlooked
when
they
have
no
way
to
improve
without
gaining
better
funding
and
a
strong
School
Board
is
important
to
making
these
changes.
Giving
this
students
power
on
the
school
board
will
offer
them
opportunities
to
improve
their
school
environment
and
the
resources
they
have,
therefore
creating
a
better
school
board
in
which
everyone
is
heard,
and
everyone
benefits.
Thank
you,
Thank.
A
You
councilman
give
I'm
gonna
because
I
did
we
got
called
a
little
bit
out
of
order.
Wait
hold
on
one
second,
because
I
missed
pon
pon
say
like
turnout,
Senate
right
I,
don't
think
your
name
was
called
yet
so
I
want
to
be
fair
to
everybody
and
call
in
an
order.
Okay,
so
just
sit
there.
That's
fine!
Do
you
have
a
question?
A
B
I
just
wanted
to
first
of
all,
thank
especially
mr.
Tyrell
and
and
Cameron
for
coming
out,
because
I
know
how
important
it
was
for
you
to
be
here
to
testify
and
I
agree
with
you
that
it
is
not
having
your
voice
hear
me
has
a
lot
of
impact
on
how
we're
going
to
be
framing
the
issue.
I
also
wanted
to
express
thanks
for
bringing
such
an
intersectional
approach
to
how
we
talk
about
what
it
means
to
have
a
diverse
and
representative
school
board,
and
you
know
really
appreciate
it.
B
One
of
the
questions
that
we
had
that
I
had
just
for
clarity
is,
is
that
and
I
think
mr.
Charlie
spoke
to
it.
I
wondered
if
you
could
just
make
it
even
more
clear,
so
the
school
board
does
have
an
on
appointed
member.
That
is
a
student.
Can
you
talk
a
little
bit
more
about
why
you
feel
like
that's,
that
that
is
inadequate
and
and
camryn
feel
free
to
weigh
in
as
well
I.
Think.
O
I
think
our
stance
is
that
when
we
talk
about
student
voice,
we
don't
want
them
just
to
be
present.
We
want
them
to
be
able
to
have
meaningful
input
and
meaningful
input
without
a
vote.
We
don't
feel
as
adequate
I
think
this
then
what
happens
now
is
oftentimes.
There's
a
lot
of
hearings,
but
we've
all
been
to
where
new
initiatives
are
talked
about
and
students
are
invited
to
be
in
the
room,
and
that's
being
said,
that's
being
told
is
what
engaging
students
are
right
or
for
a
young
person.
O
O
So
if
we're
saying
we're
putting
on
a
board
or
if
I
think,
if
the
charge
is
really
to
create
a
board
right
to
be
able
to
bring,
you
know
our
school
district
and
school
system
into
the
next
wave
I
think
that
it's
an
opportunity
to
really
change
that
specific
contradiction.
I
mean
we
also
want
to
make
sure
you
know
saying
that
our
immigrant
families
are
also
represented,
but
I
think
when
we're
talking
about
the
boards.
O
K
A
If
I
could
just
add
in
fact,
report
information
just
as
far
as
the
student
of
being
on
on
the
board,
there
is
a
in
the
pennsylvania
school
code
which
we
have
to
abide
by
in
the
city
of
philadelphia.
It
does
specifically
say
I
know,
there's
some
other
wording
that
could
be
open
to
interpretation.
It
does
say
to
be
a
member
of
a
school
board.
O
One
one
one
last
thing
this,
because
I
don't
want
to
take
up
space
from
anybody
else.
I
think
that
when
you
join
a
committee,
you
join
what
the
opportunity
to
really
push
and
to
be
bold
in
your
decisions.
Right
and
I
understand
that
the
right
now
decisions
at
schools
is
being
moved
to
Philadelphia.
So
I
think
now
is
a
very
strategic
time
for
this
committee
and
the
rest
of
the
elected
officials
who
represent
this
decision.
Also
to
be
able
to
move
with
a
very
powerful
recommendation.
O
A
G
G
This
is
why
I
am
urging
city
council
to
change
the
language
of
the
school
board
charter,
which
limit
people's
participation
in
our
school
governance
to
were
the
only
registered
voters.
I
strongly
believe
that
all
parents,
regardless,
if
they
are
registered
to
both
or
not,
should
be
able
to
actively
be
involvement
in
the
school
system
in
which
their
children
attend.
The
Philadelphia's
immigrant
population
is
close
to
15%.
G
This
mean
that
a
substantial
portion
of
parents
in
our
city
are
essentially
barred
from
becoming
members
of
public
school
board,
because
we
are
not
registered
to
vote
where
parents
are
permanent
resident
on
document
or
other
ways
ineligible
to
become
registered.
Boarders
should
we
have
no
bearing
and
their
ability
to
have
their
boss
here
when
it
comes
to
their
children's
education.
Many
citizens
have
no
registered
voters
either,
but
we
are
all
resident
of
this
city.
G
We
call
home
I
believe
that
it
isn't
just
to
have
a
such
requirement
to
have
your
voice
heard,
and
it
goes
again
to
the
values
of
the
Macha
see
that
this
country
was
founded
in
on
in
our
city
many
years
ago.
We
cannot
truly
claim
we
are
moving
towards
a
locally
controlled
school
board
when
we
are.
We
are
willingly
silencing
two
boys
of
many
in
our
city
by
continuing
forward
with
these
arbitrary
bowling
registration
requirement.
G
Even
though
I
am
member
of
Philadelphia
public
school
community
I
have
no
voice,
even
though
my
children's
have
educate
from
attending
Philadelphia
public
school
I
have
no
voice
it's
time
for
change.
They
allow
democracy
to
be
in
full
effect.
Philadelphia
has
been
on
the
brown
world
of
many
issues
and
we
have
the
opportunity
to
once
again
show
the
rest
of
the
country.
What
your
progress
is
like
I,
strongly
encourage
to
City
Council
to
vote,
to
change
the
requirement
of
being
a
registered
voters
without
being
a
resident
of
Philadelphia.
G
In
order
to
be
a
part
of
our
public
school
board,
a
community
control,
a
school
board
means
that
any
members
of
Philadelphia's
community
shall
be
able
to
participate
in
this
decision-making
body
that
afaik
they
their
daily
lives.
I
urge
to
vote
to
include
all
voices
and
allowed
many
of
us
who
have
a
children
in
our
school
to
also
have
our
voice
heard
regarding
our
children's
education.
Thank
you
thank.
N
N
Time
and
time
again,
we
are
told
as
young
people
we
should
that
we
should
be
active
and
involved
in
our
school.
The
switch
from
state
appointed
SRC
to
a
local
community
control
board
is
one
of
the
best
opportunities
I
can
think
of
to
allow
young
people
to
get
involved
in
their
schools
unfortunetely
before
a
new
local
control,
school
board
can
even
be
established
myself
and
members
of
my
family
are
having
our
voices
silence
when
it
comes
to
making
decisions
over
my
education.
N
One
of
the
requirements
to
be
a
member
of
the
public
school
board
is
that
you
must
be
a
registered
boarder.
This
arbitrary
requirement
is
essentially
silencing
the
voices
of
those
who
are
most
affected
by
any
decision.
This
government
body
may
take
the
students
in
order
to
truly
have
a
local
community
control
over
school
boards.
We
must
ensure
that
any
and
all
members
of
the
Philadelphia's
communities
are
able
to
be
active
voting
members
of
it
regardless
if
they
are
registered
to
board
or
not.
My
family
is
also
known
as
a
mixed
status.
N
This
means
that
some
members
and
my
family
are
documented
and
not.
It
is
important
for
me
to
mention
this
as
well,
because
when
looking
at
the
current
school
board
charter,
members
of
my
family
will
also
be
barred
from
having
a
boys
in
the
future
of
my
education.
I
find
this
to
be
completely
unjust,
undemocratic.
N
If
we
move
forward
with
the
current
charter,
we
are
going
against
the
very
idea
of
community
control.
I
strongly
encourage
members
of
the
council
to
vote
and
change
their
requirements
to
be
on
a
school
board
from
being
registered
border
to
being
a
resident
of
Philadelphia
vote
against
the
silencing
of
young
people's
voices
like
myself
when
it
comes
to
being
a
boarding
member
of
our
public
school
board.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
E
My
name
is
Kendra
Brooks
and
I'm,
a
parent
I'm,
also
a
part
of
parent
United
for
public
education
and
our
city.
Our
schools
coalition
I
didn't
provide
a
written
testimony
because
usually
once
I
get
here,
it's
what
I
wrote
completely
changes,
but
one
thing
I
want
to
do
is
recognize
and
kind
of
mimic
the
voice
of
so
many
parents
that
have
spoken
before
me.
E
Public
charter,
immigrant
and
also
the
youth,
my
thing
and
moving
forward
as
we
celebrate
the
enviromental
to
SRC
I
think
moving
forward
I
want
to
ensure
that
our
new
school
board
kind
of
eliminates
this
divisive
Nisour,
the
the
feeling
that
parents
need
the
parents
feel
that
they
need
to
fight
just
to
keep
a
school
open
to
be
sure
stability
in
their
children's
education
and
that
their
voices
of
voices
have
heard
I
keep
hearing
voices
being
heard.
But
at
this
point
and
our
current
system,
the
way
is
set
up.
E
We
needed
our
voices
not
only
to
be
heard
but
actions
to
be
recognized
and
that
when
parents
stand
together
and
fight
for
what's
right
for
their
children
was
right
for
our
current
school
board,
around
curriculum
about
self
safe
buildings,
about
building
conditions
about
funding
about
getting
money
from
PPA
or
wherever.
It's
coming.
From
that
there's
serious
action
taken
on
the
stance
that
all
parents
take
regardless
of
public
parent
public
charter
or
immigrant
parents.
I
also
want
to
make
sure
that,
as
part
of
this
charter
change,
that
a
seer,
the
consideration
is
being
made
for
children.
E
I
brought
my
daughter
out
today,
but
she
didn't
want
to
stand
up
here
with
me,
but
I
brought
out
just
so.
She
can
see
the
process
and
the
procedure
just
being
in
place
and
I
felt
like
this
is
a
very
detrimental
education
process
for
her
moving
into
high
school
and
I.
Think
that
recognizing
that
the
requirement
I
know
is
a
state
requirement
of
being
18.
But
all
of
my
children
graduated
already
from
high
school
by
the
time
they
were
18,
so
I
think
some
serious
consideration
needs
to
be
made.
A
A
A
Q
Let
me
back
up
six
public
school
students
to
whom
have
graduated
from
the
high
school
already
and
I.
Have
one
who
graduates
high
school
here
and
I
have
three
in
elementary
school
right
now.
So
when
we
talk
about
parent
engagement,
when
we
talk
about
having
parents
on
this
board,
it's
very
important
that
we
do
have
parents
on
this
board
and
I'm
explaining
to
you
why
you
know
when,
when
we
begin
to
talk
about
parental
engagement
for
16
years,
there
was
no.
There
was
no
parental
engagement
with
the
current
SRC
parents.
Q
Weren't
they
didn't
have
an
input
on
how
things
should
go
and
we're
the
primary
stakeholders
when
it
comes
to
our
children
as
children's
education.
When
we
talk
about
parental
engagement,
we
talk
about
parents
that
are
actively
involved
in
these
schools.
So
I
look
at
myself
having
six
children.
Some
have
graduated
some
still
in,
and
you
know
you
go
to
every
meeting
you.
Q
You
are
actively
involved
in
the
schools
and
you're
on
your
children's
back
about
their
education
and
then,
when
you
have
a
when
you
don't
have
a
voice
to
actually
say
how
you
feel
about
how
certain
things
are
going.
That
becomes
discouraging
when
you
begin
to
talk
about
how
the
direction
of
which
our
children's
education
should
go
in,
and
the
lack
of
counselors
and
the
lacks
of
nurses
and
again
an
example
at
my
children's
elementary
school.
Q
They
went
without
a
nurse
for
a
very
extended
period
of
time
and
all
three
of
my
younger
children
suffer
from
asthma
very
bad
and
they
have
to
be
treated
for
this.
So
when
you
begin
to
talk
about
parental
engagement,
these
are
the
just
a
small
fraction
of
the
things
that
are
important
not
just
to
myself,
but
to
other
parents
that
are
actively
involved
in
these
schools.
Q
So
when
we
talk
about
the
school
board
and
and
what
we
need
as
a
people
school
board,
we're
talking
about,
it
should
be
made
up
of
parents,
student
and
educators,
pretty
much
without
which
all
are
true:
stakeholders
in
the
school
system,
the
end
of
conflict
interests,
the
conflict
of
interest,
no
more
profit
off
of
our
children.
You
know
because
our
children,
education,
has
been
up
for
sale
for
the
last
16
years,
which
is
deplorable.
Q
Q
You
know
I
speak
about
myself
a
lot
because,
when
I'm
dealing
with
with
this-
because
you
know
seeing
the
difference
in
school
districts
and
I
use
this
example
any
time
I
speak
I
have
one
child
as
she
lives
up
in
Warminster
with
her
mother
and
she
attends
the
Centennial
district.
So
this
is
where
parental
environment
comes
in
as
well.
Q
The
very
first
time
I
went
to
back-to-school
night
up
in
the
Centennial
district.
It
was
like
night
and
day
compared
to
the
Philadelphia
district
and
when
I
say
night
and
day
I
walked
in
and
when
I
walked
into
this
high
school,
they
had
a
state-of-the-art
auditorium.
They
had
a
supermarket
in
the
school
teaching
good
healthy
eating.
They
had
a
credit
union
into
school
teaching
the
students
about
financial
responsibility.
Q
They
had
a
library
that
was
state-of-the-art,
reminded
you
of
the
library
on
Vine,
Street
and
then
going
to
the
classrooms.
Every
classroom
had
whiteboards
had
everything
that
they
needed
to
educate
our
children.
So
again,
the
question
that
I
access,
what's
the
difference
between
a
student
that
attends
a
suburban
district
as
opposed
to
a
student
that
attends
a
Philadelphia
public
district.
So
when
we
talk
about
parental
involvement,
these
are
the
things
that
the
people
that
sit
behind
certain
tests
that
make
decision
don't
see,
but
as
parents,
when
we're
at
these
schools
every
single
day.
R
Let's
piece
of
legislation,
our
education
team
made
up
of
principals
of
teachers,
former
teachers,
retired
teachers
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Our
team,
along
with
our
clergy
leadership,
have
looked
at
this
piece
of
legislation
and
of
taking
the
position
that
this
piece
of
legislation
must
effectively
lead
to
an
elected
school
board.
R
The
simple
right
that
philadelphians
do
not
have
that
right
to
do.
That
is
not
just
wrong.
It's
morally
wrong!
We
can
do
better.
No
one
wants
to
move
from
the
SRC
to
a
concentrated
board
was
controlled
by
just
the
mayor
and
the
council.
We
want
to
see
the
opportunity
to
have
democracy
in
action.
We
want
to
see
every
two
years,
school
board,
members
being
elected
and
having
a
stand
before
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
account
for
their
actions.
R
We
want
to
see
a
school
board
elected
every
two
years,
where
our
school
board
members
elected
every
two
years,
where
they're
standing
and
having
to
give
an
account
for
every
decision
they
made
of
what
is
their
education
philosophy?
How
are
they
changing
and
transforming
our
schools
to
make
it
better
anyway,
who
believes
that
just
by
NEA
SRC,
there's
new,
this
real
change
is
going
to
happen
is
living
in
a
fantasy
world,
because
the
school
the
school
board
wasn't
good
before
the
SRC.
The
schools
will
not
be
before
the
SRC.
R
The
spheres
will
in
definite
danger
in
trouble
before
the
SRC,
so
to
make
the
SRC
seem
like
a
devil.
When
the
problem
is
that
democracy
is
the
problem
in
this
city,
we
don't
have
a
democratic
way
of
holding
people
who
are
accountable
to
the
education
of
our
children.
We
don't
have
a
democratic
way
of
handling
and
holding
them
accountable
for
their
actions,
and
so
I
ask
you
I,
ask
you
counsel
people
here,
I
asked
you
to
put
in
this
legislation
language
that
puts
the
question
before
the
people
the
dares
to
ask
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
R
Alright.
What
do
you
want?
Do
you
want
aboard
this
picked
by
the
mayor
and
picked
by
council
approval,
or
do
you
want
elect
this
board
yourself?
I
challenge
you
I
challenge
you
to
put
in
the
language
of
this
charter
change
language
that
would
allow
the
city
voters
to
make
the
choice.
If
you
think
you
have
the
right
position
in
handling
this,
if
you
think
that
this
is
definitely
the
right
thing
to
do,
then
take
it
before
the
voters
and
make
your
arguments
before
the
voters.
R
S
Good
morning
my
name
is
Lisa
Haven
before
I
began.
I
just
want
to
point
out.
The
Centennial
school
district
has
an
elected
school
board.
Perhaps
that
has
something
to
do
with
why
Centennial
school
district
has
so
much
more
than
we
do
good
morning.
My
name
is
Lisa
afternoon.
My
name
is
Lisa
haver
I'm,
a
retired
Philadelphia
teacher
I've
taught
in
Germantown
Felton
Ville
Frankford,
my
children
graduated
from
Philadelphia
public
schools,
I'm
a
member
and
co-founder
of
the
Alliance
for
Philadelphia
public
schools.
We
are
a
grassroots
organization
of
educators,
parents
and
community
members.
S
We
believe
that
public
schools,
truly
public
schools,
are
the
foundation
of
a
democratic
society.
Absent
members
have
attended
and
testified
at
and
reported
on.
Src
means
for
the
last
five
years
we've
had
our
ears
analyzed
on
the
SRC,
and
we
have
watched
as
they
have
furthered,
a
privatization
agenda
that
has
devastated
our
public
school
system.
There
was
a
ridiculous
comment
made
in
an
op-ed
recently
that
said
that
governance
of
the
school
district
wasn't
important,
but
getting
funding
and
improving
conditions
for
students
that
that's
what's
really
important,
as
if
those
two
things
could
be
separate.
S
We
as
Philadelphians
have
to
begin
a
period
of
recovery
from
the
devastating
decisions
of
May
by
an
unelected
and
unaccountable
SOC
and
post
on
us
by
Harrisburg.
After
that,
we
need
a
school
board
whose
members
will
advocate
for
fair
funding
for
fair
employment
policies
for
spending
the
precious
District
dollars
that
we
have
on
the
best
interest
of
the
students,
not
the
interests
of
the
vendors
and
one
of
the
big
failings
of
the
soc.
Was
they
didn't
really
know
boys
people,
even
people
who
sat
on
the
other
side
of
the
table.
S
Like
me,
the
members
of
apps-
and
we
said
you
get-
the
bus
will
be
on
your
bus.
We
may
be
on
this
side
table
now.
They
really
drop
the
ball
when
it
came
to
publicly
advocating
for
what
our
kids
need-
and
this
is
really
important,
because
the
voices
are
the
parents.
Students
and
teachers
have
been
shut
out
for
the
past
16
years.
We've
had
the
voices
of
rich
and
powerful
people
who
don't
live
here
like
the
gates
and
the
Waltons
and
the
voices.
S
The
rich
people
who
live
in
the
suburbs
serve
on
the
board
of
the
Philadelphia
School
Partnership
or
management
Susquehanna
group.
Those
people
have
had
a
voice.
We
haven't
heard
them
because
they've
been
in
meetings
that
the
public
has
not
been
allowed
to
come
to,
but
they
push
an
agenda
of
choice
while
shutting
down
neighborhood
schools,
an
agenda
of
choice,
while
diverting
public
dollars
to
non-public
schools
and
our
children
have
felt
the
impact
of
those
decisions
we
had
no
part
in
making.
S
When
we
end
the
soc
will
be
ending
one
of
the
biggest
pay
to
play
systems
we
have
seen
in
this
city.
We
can't
maintain
this
status
quo
of
outside
hedge
fund
managers
and
edgy
vendors,
making
decisions
in
rooms
that
were
not
invited
to
about
the
city's
public
schools.
I
attended
a
meeting
two
weeks
ago,
organized
by
Councilwoman,
bays
well-run
parent,
said
he
wants
people
on
the
board
who
have
skin
in
the
game.
So
who
is
a?
Do
you
have
to
be
a
parent?
I
would
say?
No,
you
do
not
have
to
be
a
parent.
S
You
have
to
be
an
education
expert.
No,
you
do
not.
We
have
to
believe
in
public
education.
You
have
to
believe
that
neighborhoods
need
schools
and
when
that
neighborhood
school
closes
down,
it
affects
not
just
the
students
and
the
parents,
but
everybody
in
that
community
I
want
people
on
the
board
more
on
it.
Just
stop
the
unquestioning
expansion
of
inadequate
charter
schools
and
fail
to
shut
down
the
failing
charter
schools
that
the
SRC
is
continuing
to
fund
I
want
people
on
a
school
board
who
will
go
to
Harrisburg?
S
B
B
We've
done
it
together,
each
step
of
the
way
at
the
first
meeting,
yes
at
the
very
first
meeting
and
I'm
incredibly
grateful
to
parents
like
Kendra
Brooks
and
to
Annapurna,
and
to
so
many
other
people
who
have
stuck
with
a
complicated,
difficult
dysfunctional
public
school
system
and
are
trying
to
fix
it,
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
you're
being
heard.
So
thank.
A
A
T
Can
you
hear
me
now,
okay,
good
afternoon,
my
name
is
Sara
Arman
I'm,
a
member
of
reclaim
Philadelphia,
a
Social
Work
student
at
Temple
and
a
student
facilitator
at
the
power
internship
of
social
justice
education
program
for
high
school
students
organized
by
the
university
community
collaborative
last
month.
The
score
from
Commission
voted
to
abolish
itself
and
return
control
of
our
school
district
to
a
local
school
board.
T
This
incredible
victory
is
just
the
first
step
in
creating
a
truly
accountable
local
school
school
governance
in
Philadelphia,
a
school
alone
when
a
local
school
board
alone
will
not
secure
the
lot
of
level
of
integrity
to
students,
families,
educators
and
community
members
that
we
need
to
see
in
order
for
our
schools
to
prosper.
That
is
why
we
are
advocating
for
a
people's
school
board.
The
people's
school
board
will
have
meaningful
representation
of
those
who
are
most
directly
impacted
by
our
schools,
students,
parents,
educators
and
community
leaders.
T
These
are
the
people
who
are
inside
of
and
most
affected
by
our
schools
every
day
who
better
knows
than
they
do
what
our
schools
need.
We
urge
the
committee
before
us
to
ensure
that
the
three
criteria
are
met
for
all
mayoral
appointments
to
the
school
board.
A
people
school
board
will
have
no
conflicts
of
interest.
Profit-Seeking
must
not
take
precedence
over
the
needs
of
students,
families
and
educators
in
our
district,
no
member
of
the
board
should
be
receiving
monetary
gains
through
decisions
the
school
board
makes.
T
Lastly,
we
need
a
school
board
that
we're
fight
will
fight
for
fair
funding
of
our
schools.
Corporations
need
to
pay
their
fair
share,
so
our
schools
can
get
the
resources
they
deserve.
I'm
also
asking
you
today
with
the
others
here
to
take
action
when
changing
the
amendments
to
the
current
Philadelphia
home
rule
rule
charter
to
expand
the
language
around
who
is
eligible
to
be
on
the
board,
as
well
as
the
voting
power
of
students
on
the
board.
According
to
the
current
Home
Rule
Charter,
both
immigrants,
parents
and
students
cannot
vote
on
the
school
board.
T
If
these
two
groups
are
left
out,
our
school
board
won't
have
representation
from
some
of
the
most
vital
community
members
that
it
is
meant
to
serve.
Students
are
in
our
schools
every
day
and
they
are
most
directly
impacted
by
any
changes
in
the
district.
They
deserve
to
have
a
voice
in
the
decision-making
process
and
when
they
do,
it
makes
our
schools
better.
T
We
already
have
evidence
of
this
with
the
district's
recent
adoption
of
protections
for
transgender
and
gender
non-conforming
students,
so
if
a
youth
from
the
Youth
Center
actually
helped
draft
this
policy
as
well
as
provide
trainings
for
educators,
this
policy
is
so
comprehensive,
precisely
because
the
youth
who
are
most
affected
by
it
were
part
of
the
process.
This
is
why
the
student
member
of
the
school
board
needs
to
have
a
vote
that
actually
counts.
T
The
students
I
work
with
are
intelligent
and
capable
and
have
a
deep
understanding
of
the
systems
that
impact
their
lives,
especially
the
school
system.
They
are
aware
of
the
problems
our
school
space
and
they
have
ideas
about
how
to
make
them
better
in
states
with
districts
that
grant
voting
power
to
student
members
of
the
school
board.
Not
only
do
those
districts
benefit,
but
those
students
gain
valuable
skills
and
experience
by
being
empowered
to
have
a
real
impact
on
the
board.
Immigrants,
too,
must
be
able
to
hold
positions
on
our
school
board.
T
Right
now,
the
Home
Rule
Charter
states,
the
members
of
the
school
board,
must
be
registered
voters.
Many
parents
of
students
don't
have
access
to
voter
registration,
so
we
must
ensure
that
they
are
still
eligible
to
have
a
seat
on
the
school
board.
Our
district
is
currently
failing:
immigrant
students
and
families,
especially
those
who
are
non
English
speakers.
These
parents
know
from
experience
what
our
schools
should
be
doing
to
provide
an
equable
education
for
immigrant
students
better
than
even
experts.
T
We
need
to
ensure
that
immigrants
are
able
to
be
members
of
the
school
board,
I'm,
urging
you
to
consider
making
these
additional
changes
to
the
Home
Rule
Charter,
so
that
we
may
have
a
truly
representation
with
school
board
expand
which
around
eligibility,
so
the
immigrants
can
hold
seats
on
the
board
and
give
student
members
of
the
board
real
voting
power.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
E
Good
afternoon
members
of
City
Council
law
and
government
committee,
my
name
is
Sylvia
P,
Sims
and
I
am
the
executive
director
of
educational
opportunities
for
families
and
a
former
member
of
the
school
reform.
Commission
I
wanted
to
take
this
opportunity
to
come
before
you,
as
we
discuss
an
amendment
to
the
city's
charter
to
allow
for
the
selection
and
confirmation
of
a
new
school
board
to
oppress
to
a
press
upon
you.
E
The
gravity
in
the
test
before
you
in
the
mayor
as
a
lifelong
resident
of
North
Philadelphia
I
have
seen
firsthand
the
effects
that
lower
performing
schools
can
have
on
a
community.
I
have
experienced
the
feeling
of
hopelessness
that
a
parent
and
family
member
fill
sending
their
children
to
a
school
which
they
have
been
failing
to
provide
a
quality.
Education
and
I
have
also
felt
the
anger
of
a
parent
who
trusted
a
school
system
and
its
leaders
when
it
asks
us
to
be
patient
and
give
the
district
time
to
make
changes
from
within.
Well.
E
I
can
tell
you.
Parents
in
the
city
are
done
with
waiting.
We
spend
close
to
three
billion
dollars
every
year
to
educate
the
students
in
this
city,
and
yet
we
have
29
schools
that
only
receive
a
single-digit
score
on
the
district.
Most
recent
small
progress
report.
These
single-digit
schools
are
hands
of
over
17,000
students
who
are
being
failed
by
the
city,
but
there
is
hope
for
our
children.
E
Let
me
make
one
thing
very
clear:
the
new
school
board
has
a
responsibility
to
ensure
that
every
public
school
students
have
access
to
high
quality
education.
This
means
not
only
must
each
individual
work
to
provide
the
district
one
schools,
but
they
must
be
also
respect
to
preserve
the
family
rights
to
choose
the
best
school
for
their
children.
E
As
mayor
candy
said,
I
am
responsible
for
every
one
of
those
children,
no
matter
what
type
of
school
they
attend
and
I
will
be
judged
by
the
voters
on
the
number
of
high-performing
schools
in
every
neighborhood,
not
whether
those
schools
are
district
or
public
schools.
Council
members,
there
are
nearly
65,000
Philadelphia
children
attending
charter
schools
in
this
city,
that
is,
40
percent
of
the
total
student
population.
E
I
asked
you
to
ensure
the
selection
and
confirmation
process
of
this
new
school
board
be
unbiased
and
that
the
board
members,
you
confirm,
are
there
to
represent
the
needs
of
every
film
of
your
student
and
not
there
to
push
their
own
political
agenda
on
behalf
of
the
eight
thousand
plus
families.
I
am
privileged
to
call
my
allies
in
the
fight
for
a
better
Philadelphia
score.
I
asked
you
to
take
the
responsibility
of
confirming
the
mayor's
appointing
school
board
very
seriously,
because
we
are
watching
in
holding
you
and
the
mayor
accountable
for
the
outcomes.
B
Morning,
my
name
is
Molly
Michael
on
the
parent
of
two
two
daughters
who
attend
our
neighbor
Skule
South
Park
in
South,
Philadelphia
and
I'm.
Also
a
leader
of
the
school's
school
Advisory
Council
we've
been
a
part
of
our
school
community
for
nearly
four
years
now,
and
we've
been
very
happy
with
the
education
our
daughters
are
receiving.
B
In
recent
years,
we've
seen
reading
scores
in
our
largely
immigrant
school
skyrocket
in
large
part,
due
to
the
investment
in
a
literacy,
coach
and
new
curriculum
and
teaching
methodology
this
year,
we're
focusing
on
improving
our
math
test
scores
as
well.
The
investment
in
our
school
has
been
so
successful
that
South
Park,
which
was
previously
under
enrolled,
is
now
bursting
at
the
seams
growing
from
just
over
500
students.
B
Even
though
we
continue
to
operate
on
an
inadequate
budget,
including
inequitable
allocation
of
our
title,
1
funding
that
doesn't
appropriately
account
for
our
immigrant
students
living
in
poverty,
having
said
all
of
that,
I
was
thrilled
with
the
vote
at
last
month's
School
Reform
Commission
for
the
board
to
dissolve
itself.
There
has
never
been
a
better
time
to
restore
local
control
with
the
school
board
appointed
by
the
mayor
and
approved
by
City
Council.
E
Am
mama
Gayle,
my
legal
name
is
Gayle
cloud
and
Cielo
udem
I
am
privileged
to
see
here
this
morning
or
now
afternoon,
because
I've
been
traveling
extensively
and
I
just
returned
from
Korea
and
China
and
I
had
to
go
out
in
the
hall
to
cry
to
be
honest
with
you
that
in
2018
we'd
be
sitting
here
asking
for
a
school
boy.
I've
said
for
many
years
at
62.
I
sat
in
front
of
dr.
clayton
month
after
month
after
month.
E
That's
my
mission
and
with
the
failure
to
our
children,
the
failure
to
our
people,
I,
sit
and
I
continue
to
say
it's
unacceptable
and
to
sit
here
today
and
faith
about
all
that
I've
heard
because
I
haven't
had
time
to
read
a
whole
lot
of
anything
because
I've
been
with
leaders
from
all
over
the
world
and
when
I
think
of
the
failure
that
I've
seen
in
the
past
six
years
that
people
don't
want
to
talk
about
while
you're
talking
about
a
school
boy.
What
about
this
feeling,
superintendent
and
I
said
for
anybody
that
knows
me.
E
I've
been
ringing
in
a
bell.
Time
is
up
dr.
heit.
It
was
easy
for
people
to
come
together
and
say:
dr.
Eileen,
Kay
Ackerman
had
to
go,
but
no
one
wants
to
talk
about
dr.
William,
Hyde
jr.
going
you
talk
about
a
school
board,
but
what
about
the
person?
That's
at
the
helm,
we've
watched
children
fail
of
what
what's
people's
children
taken
away
from
them
as
a
result
of
reporting,
bullying,
I've
seen
so
many
things
that
are
inhumane
happen
in
Philadelphia.
E
This
is
the
beginning
of
everything
and
it
hurts
so
much
because
I
watch
the
Killman
I
helped
to
get
minority
people
jump
on
businesses,
get
them
business
with
the
district
and
I
think
back
to
dr.
Clayton
sitting.
There
saying
excuse
me,
dr.
Clayton,
sitting
with
the
school
board
at
the
time
and
they're
asking
what
about
contracts?
How
do
people
get
to
know
how
to
how
to
apply
for
a
contract?
Here
we
are
today
while
we're
talking
about
the
school
board.
Finances
is
very
important.
E
I'm
telling
you
when
I
was
on
the
radio
and
I
thought
I
heard
doctors
excuse
me
councilor,
Sanchez
and
the
she
said.
We
will
hunt
a
few
hundred
properties
getting
ready
to
go
on.
Then
the
auction
block,
I
thought
I
heard
her
say
that
and
they
could
be
bidding
on
all
over
the
world
and
the
people
only
owed
$1,000
I
was
waiting
to
go
in
and
lie.
E
Am
I
hearing
what
I
think
I'm
hearing
so,
while
you're
talking
about
a
school
board
and
while
you're
talking
about
all
the
other
stuff
where's
the
money
being
supposed
to
be
raised
for
the
scoreboard
for
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia?
Excuse
me:
I,
don't
come
here
to
speak,
but
there
are
some
times
where
you
can't
sit
and
not
speak.
There's
so
many
matters
of
failure
here
and
all
the
people
go
out
to
other
cities.
E
Other
states
they're,
taking
this
policy
of
what's
happening
here,
pretending
lying
to
the
public
all
over
the
world
about
what's
happening
here
and
it's
time
to
stop
I,
don't
know
how
the
school
board
is
going
to
be
set
up.
But
what
I'm
saying
to
you
is
you're
the
people
that
we
elected
to
sit
in
for
us
do
it
is
the
right
thing
to
do
just
because
it's
the
right
thing
to
do.
E
E
E
Someone
do
a
talk
to
us
several
years
ago
and
he
talked
about
the
fact
that
it
was
an
elective
scubadelphia,
probably
one
year
and
I
think
he
said
it
was
in
the
1800s.
Go
back
to
that.
Look
at
look
at
what
was
happening
then
go
back
to
that.
Go
back
to
history
of
that
has
here
in
other
places
and
use
it
and
stop
putting
on
energy
into
a
broken
I'm
system
change.
It
y'all
can't
do
that.
You're,
the
people
that
we
elected,
okay.
A
A
F
A
F
A
F
A
F
A
F
A
Been
moved
and
seconded
all
in
favor
aye
opposed
hearing
none
bill,
number
1,
7,
0,
9,
5,
forge
report,
as
committee
with
favor
recommendation
was
a
rule
suspension
allow
for
an
extra
or
reading
at
our
next
session
of
counsel.
That
completes
our
long
government
hearing
and
meeting
for
today.
Thank
you
all
very
much
happy
holidays
and
all
that
good
stuff.