Philadelphia School Budget

(Philadelphia School District headquarters. File photo by Mike DeNardo)

Phila. School District Extends Deadline For Displaced Students To Find New Schools

School District of Philadelphia spoikeswoman Deirdre Darragh says they simply wanted to give parents a little more time, so the deadline has been extended to Friday, April 19th.

2013/04/05

(ASAP executive director Justin Ennis, far left, and president Marciene Mattleman, far right, pose with Mayor Nutter, philanthropist Vivian Lasko, and Philadelphia schools superintendent William Hite. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

More Donations Sought For After-School Programs To Ease Philly Schools Shutdowns

With two dozen schools permanently closing in June, about ten thousand Philadelphia students will attend new public schools next year.

2013/03/18

(Philadelphia schools superintendent William Hite, left, and School Reform Commission chair Pedro Ramos testified Monday before City Council on the school district's downsizing plan. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia School Officials Hear Objections To District’s Downsizing Plan

The hearing lasted hours and was dominated by school parents and other advocates who object to the closure process.

2012/11/26

(Philadelphia schools superintendent Dr. William Hite told a City Council hearing on Monday that the pay increases for certain district employees were not raises but rather salary adjustments for additional duties. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia Schools Boss Defends Pay Increases For 25 District Employees

Superintendent William Hite defended the salary increases, saying they coincided with additional responsibilities for employees in the district’s IT, finance, and human resources departments.

2012/11/26

(Philadelphia School District "chief recovery officer" Thomas Knudsen, in file photo. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

Philadelphia School District Needs To Borrow $300M To Get Through Next 2 Years

The school district’s five-year financial plan includes a huge loan, says chief recovery officer Tom Knudsen.

2012/09/10

(Members of District 1201 of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union stand outside Philadelphia school district headquarters. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Custodians’ Union Says Philadelphia School District Is Trying To Strangle Them

The head of the union that represents custodians in Philadelphia public schools says the school district is bargaining in bad faith, trying to dismantle the union while obtaining millions of dollars in concessions from workers.

2012/06/13

Philadelphia City Council Votes on AVI, School Funding Will Be Severed

City Council president Darrell Clarke says Council will hold two separate votes: one on the mayor’s proposed property tax overhaul, the other on the mayor’s proposed increase in School District funding.

2012/06/04

(A unionized worker at the Philadelphia School District is arrested during a sitdown demonstration at Broad and Race Streets. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

14 Arrested During Midday Sit-In By Philadelphia School District Workers

It was a noisy protest by 2,000 school bus drivers and maintenance workers, marching and rallying against impending layoffs and school budget cuts.

2012/05/23

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

(Mayor Michael Nutter. File photo by Mike Dunn)

Nutter Says School Cuts Must Be Accompanied By New Property Tax System

The mayor concedes that some of the Philadelphia school cuts will be difficult but says the district’s future requires “shared sacrifice.”

2012/04/24

(City officials testify before Philadelphia City Council regarding next year's budget. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia Wrestling With Expected Impact Of State Ruling On City Tax Formula

The ruling could cost the city and the school district millions of dollars.

2012/04/04

(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

(Philadelphia city finance director Rob Dubow, left, and Councilman Bill Green. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Amid Plan To Revamp Philadelphia Property Assessments, Questions Of Higher Taxes

Mayor Nutter’s budget experts were in the hot seat as Philadelphia City Council opened hearings on Nutter’s plan to revamp the way property assessments are calculated in the city.

2012/03/26