Neighborhood hearings set for District budget – The Philadelphia Public School Notebook – April 13, 2015

Beginning Wednesday, the School District will hold a series of neighborhood hearings to discuss the District’s proposed fiscal 2016 budget.

The hearings are being co-sponsored by several community organizations, including the Philadelphia Education Fund, POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild), Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), local clergy, and community advocates.

Superintendent William Hite has proposed a budget that assumes the District will receive an additional $265 million — $105 million from the city, $159 million from the state. These amounts have been proposed by Gov. Wolf and Mayor Nutter, but are by no means assured of adoption by the legislature and City Council. The first $80 million of that amount, officials have said, would simply allow the District to keep up with rising costs.

In addition to the community hearings, the School Reform Commission will hold a budget hearing at District headquarters at 5:30 p.m. on April 29. Members of the SRC and District representatives will also testify on the budget before City Council on May 26. The SRC is scheduled to vote May 28 on a final budget for the next school year.

The schedule for neighborhood meetings is below. All meetings will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

Meeting Location
Wednesday, April 15 Northeast High School, 1601 Cottman Ave.
Wednesday, April 22 Bartram High School, 2401 S. 67th St.
Tuesday, April 28 West Philadelphia High School, 4901 Chestnut St.
Wednesday, May 6 Dobbins High School, 2150 W. Lehigh Ave.
Tuesday, May 12 South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St.
Thursday, May 14 Congreso, 216 W. Somerset St.
Wednesday, May 20 Martin Luther King High School, 6100 Stenton Ave.

The Philadelphia Public School Notebook – April 13, 2015 – Read article online