8/11/2019 FAQ Back to School -Sept 2014

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SCHOOL FUNDING FAQ: What parents need to know

Whats going on

School opens September 8thafter the District made $30 million in cuts, including 400+ layoffs (noontimeaides and special ed assistants were the hardest hit! "arrisburg legislators failed to pass the cigarette ta#bill, leaing the district $8% million short of last year&s inade'uate budget! egislators will reiew the bill

again in mid)September! "undreds of school)based *obs rely on the passage of the cigarette ta# bill!

How wi!! "# s$hoo! %e a&&e$ted

ost schools will see little improement in resources and staffing from the preious year! rincipalsreceied an allotment based on -school need. which they can use to purchase staff and programs! /s aparent, you hae the right to iew eery school budget!

arents could see the following oercrowding and fre'uently changing staff including -leeling,. a process where the district

moes staff from school to school to aoid hiring needed personnel1 fewer special education assistants and noon)time aides (almost 300 were laid off

2 elementary schools will now hae a not 5 safety officer1 reduced cleaning supplies for schools ($6 in saings1

insufficient, and in some cases 7ero, dollars for boos and supplies1

part)time school counselors1 one nurse per %900 students1 libraries and centers that could not open

last year due to funding will liely remain shuttered!

Wi!! "# $hi!d re$ei'e &ree transportation this #ear

arents :nited for ublic ;ducation wored with the /rchdiocese to maintain the current %!9 miledistance for eligibility!

8/11/2019 FAQ Back to School -Sept 2014

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Is there an# additiona! "one# that $o(!d $o"e to the Distri$t

?ot really! Af the cigarette ta# passes, it will leae schools in the same position! ?either the city nor thestate did any hard lifting in this round of budget crises despite all the perceied flurry of actiity!

What a%o(t the tea$hers $ontra$t

eachers begin another year without a contract! ast year the District had demanded $%33 million in wageand benefit cuts, no additional pay, and wor rule changes including the elimination of certain teacher

protections and mandates re'uiring specific personnel in schools! he good news is that the District hasbaced off asing teachers for salary cuts (hiladelphia teachers earn significantly less than surroundingsuburbs! hey still are asing for benefit contributions and -wor rule changes. but will not fully orclearly define either of those for the public! arents :nited beliee the District should negotiate a short)term contract focused on reasonable concessions!