With the primary election over, about 100 students from Philadelphia public, charter and accelerated schools called on City Council members to begin work on approving $105 million in new, recurring funding for the Philadelphia School District.  Students from Mastery Charter School- Shoemaker, Dobbins Career and Technical High School, Chester Arthur Elementary School, Southwark Elementary School and YESPhilly joined Public Citizens for Children and Youth to visit Council Members to thank them for their long history of supporting Philadelphia schools and give each member a tool box as a symbol of the District’s need for additional resources.

“We are very thankful for City Council’s solid track record of providing our city’s schools with the resources they need to educate our children,” said Shanee Garner, Education Policy Director for PCCY.  “Now that the primary is over, we need Council to focus on approving $105 million in new funding so the District can finally add some meat to our bare bones schools.”

Sharif El Mekki, principal of Mastery Charter School-Shoemaker added, “Teachers in all school types lack the basic resources they need to educate our children.  We are united in our call for City Council to once again answer the bell for our students and give them the tools they need to be successful students.”

The Philadelphia School District says it needs $105 million from City Council and $160 million from the State Legislature to begin improving schools.  The District reports that it could hire up to 1,200 new teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses and support staff and purchase much needed supplies, technology and teaching materials if it receives all the funding it has requested.