By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — On the second day of City Council school budget hearings, a new coalition met outside City Council chambers this morning for a press conference vowing to fight the School Reform Commission’s “blueprint” to transform the city’s public schools.

The group is called P-CAPS — the Philly Coalition of Advocates for Public Schools.  It is made up of parents, students, educators, community leaders, and school employees.

P-CAPS wants to halt the SRC’s school cuts, closure and consolidation plans.

“We don’t believe it’s in the interest of Philadelphia’s children, and we have all come together to say stop,” said Jerry Jordan, president of Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (center of photo).

“What we have now needs to perhaps be supported, but it does not need to be totally destroyed,” Jordan explained, “and that what we view as the intent of the plan.”

Jordan says the management plan will take the system backwards as opposed to moving it forward.

Public meetings are in the works by P-CAPS.  They’ll be posted on the Philadelphia Home and School Council web site in the near future.