Pedro Ramos « CBS Philly

(L-R: SRC chair Pedro Ramos, superintendent William Hite, and district CFO Matthew Stanski. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

Philadelphia School District Makes Its Case For Latest Funding Stopgap

“The budget, in its current form, simply cannot support the services provided this year,” SRC chair Pedro Ramos told Philadelphia lawmakers.

2013/04/29

Philadelphia School District Takes Out Big Loan To Pay Bills

The School Reform Commission okayed the sale of $265-million in bonds just to get the district through its deficit this year.

2012/11/08

New Schools Superintendent Working On Transition To Philadelphia

The start date for Philadelphia’s new schools superintendent Dr. William Hite could be announced soon.

2012/07/12

SRC Selects New Superintendent Of Philadelphia School District

The School Reform Commission has selected its new superintendent/CEO of the Philadelphia School District, officials announced Friday.

2012/06/29

Nutter Reacts To City Council Not Increasing Budget For School Funding

Mayor Nutter and the head of the School Reform Commission say tough choices lie ahead, now that City Council has stood firm in keeping the amount of new money for the schools to less than half of what Nutter wanted.

2012/06/22

Masch Is Out As Philadelphia School District Budget Director

A school district spokesman confirms that Masch is leaving “by mutual agreement” with the district.

2012/05/11

Chief Academic Officer Penny Nixon, SRC Chairman Pedro Ramos, Chief Recovery Officer Tom Knudsen (by Mike DeNardo)

School District Leans On City Council For More Money

Public testimony is on tap today, on day two of the school district’s budget hearings at City Council. The school district is banking on more money from the city.

2012/05/09

(SRC chairman Pedro Ramos, left, and chief recover officer Thomas Knudsen, testifying before Philadelphia City Council on Tuesday. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia Schools Say $94M More From Property Taxes Next Year Won’t Be Enough

School District of Philadelphia officials say that without an additional $94 million from the mayor’s “Actual Value Initiative” property tax overhaul, schools may not have enough personnel to open in the fall.

2012/05/08

(SRC chair Pedro Ramos. Credit: City of Phila. TV)

School District Pleads With City Council For Extra Funding

School District leaders met with City Council members yesterday, to try to persuade them to support Mayor Nutter’s Actual Value tax plan and the extra $94-million it would provide for the district.

2012/05/04

Supporters of Stanton Elementary (in yellow t-shirts) celebrate their school staying open (credit: Mike DeNardo)

Philadelphia School Reform Commission Votes To Close Seven Schools, Adopts Preliminary Budget

Members of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission have voted to close eight of the schools recommended in the District’s Facilities Master Plan Thursday night.

2012/03/29

(Rob Dubow, during testimony to City Council on Monday. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia Lawmakers Grill City’s Finance Chief On Planned Property Tax Changes

One day after the head of Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission admitted to financial mismanagement under the SRC’s previous leadership, City Council members voiced misgivings about raising an extra $90 million to help bail out the school district.

2012/03/28

(SRC chair Pedro Ramos testifies before Philadelphia City Council. Photos from City of Phila. TV)

New Head of Philadelphia Schools Blames Previous Board For Huge Shortfalls

In blunt testimony, SRC chairman Pedro Ramos said that the previous SRC applied stimulus money to new programs rather than using it to address the long-term structural imbalance of the district’s budget.

2012/03/27

School Reform Commission Holds Meetings On School Closings

The School Reform Commission is in the process of holding 10 consecutive school closing hearings at the School District’s Education Center on North Broad Street.

2012/03/03