Well, Gang -- the decisions have been made: Education Managers have been renewed, cuts have been announced and pink slips have flowed. Here are two questions for you:
1). Before budget woes cut into efforts to reform our schools’ ever-familiar cycle of failure, what was the best change you saw at the schools in your community?
2). What improvements are you worried might now disappear?
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I am the parent of a rising 1st grader at Meredith Elementary in Queen Village. First, I would like to say that our educational experience in the classroom and at the school this year has been great. Our child's teacher is superb, her class has many lovely children, the children's progress over the year has been phenomenal, and the tone of the school staff/administration/parents working together has been very supportive.
The past four months, however, have been extremely trying with regard to advocating for our school in light of major proposed budget cuts. A group of concerned parents from our school have spent the past two months alternately testifying, conducting a letter writing campaign, rallying, making signs, and learning the ins and outs of the budget process.
The things I am most worried about losing are a manageable class size, being forced to accept split grades, and losing funding for signature events at our school like the annual school musical. I am also frustrated that the school district is cutting deseg busing, which costs the District $8 million when they pay $17 million annually to bus private and parochial school children to their schools.
It's hard making time to lobby and talk, and wonder if we are making progress. I just hope that we can all work together to ensure that our kids have the resources they need to get a solid and enriching education. We live in a great city, we have great kids and parents, we should have great schools too. Hopefully we can unite and turn things around with the Philadelphia School District.
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