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Archive for “Philadelphia School District” news
In Hopes of Securing State Funding, Hite Proposes Ending Teacher Tenure
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/17/2013
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This ought to boost his popularity with the teachers unions! Philadelphia Public Schools Superintendent William Hite has proposed ending teacher tenure and seniority provisions, in the hopes of receiving $120 million in state funding. (The schools are facing a $300 million deficit, hence the fact that 23 schools are being shut down next month.) House Republicans, who for the most part are not fans of tenure, and teachers unions in general, seemed quite pleased with Hite's plan.
"It's stunning and refreshing to hear from a Philadelphia superintendent," [House Republican spokeman Steve] Miskin said. "I think we would definitely be willing to
Diane Sawyer Profiling One of Philly’s “Most Dangerous” Schools Tonight on ABC News
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/16/2013
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With so much attention on underserved or struggling Philadelphia schools that are being shuttered, it can be easy to forget the persistently troubled schools that are staying open. The next episode in Diane Sawyer's ABC's documentary series "Hidden America"--a nod to Michael Harrington's famous 1962 book The Other America--will feature Strawberry Mansion High School. Here's how ABC is promoting the report, which airs this evening.
435 high school students beginning the year. 94 cameras. 6 school police officers. 2 metal detectors. Welcome to Strawberry Mansion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – considered one of the most dangerous high schools in the country for the
Mayor Nutter’s New School Aid Plan Will Make Drinking, Smoking More Expensive
By Joel Mathis 5/15/2013
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CBS Philly reports:
Mayor Michael Nutter today announced a funding package that will give the School District of Philadelphia an additional $95 million in the next fiscal year, even more than the $60 million the school district had requested from the city to fill its latest budget hole (see related story).
The mayor says the package includes an increase in the liquor-by-the-drink tax from 10 percent to 15 percent, effective July 1st. That is expected to raise $22 million.
In addition, the city is adding an additional tax of $2 per pack of cigarettes, over and above the city and state taxes currently placed on tobacco
Hundreds of Philly Students Walked Out Of School Today. Here’s Why.
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/09/2013
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Protesting looming cuts to school programs and staff that many have described as disastrous, hundreds of Philadelphia students marched to City Hall, and then up Broad, to School District headquarters today.
Mayor Nutter, meanwhile, was at a high school in South Philly this morning, rallying for $300 million in education funding the School Reform Commission needs from Council, from the state, and from union concessions to close the district's budget shortfall. Some council members seem irked that he chose to do it while they were in session, suggesting the mayor was trying to send a message. Council President Darrell Clarke, meanwhile,
Philly Teacher Buys Student “Fifty Shades of Grey”
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/02/2013
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Is there anyone left out there who doesn't know what Fifty Shades of Grey is? One East Falls teacher claims he did not when he ordered the book for a 14-year-old 9th grader at Eastern University Academy Charter School. Math teacher Philip Aidoo had asked students what books they might like for an independent reading period, and then ordered the books with his own money. Next thing you know, Anastasia and Christian were doing it in the bottom of the boy's book bag. When his mother found the book there, she told the school, which subsequently commenced an investigation.
“Unfortunately, Mr.
This Is How Easy It Is To Overlook Sexual Abuse
By Joel Mathis 4/30/2013
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Turns out a Philadelphia elementary teacher accused last week of raping his niece for eight years had caused some concern around the school—but not enough to keep him away from students. 6ABC reports that a half-dozen teen boys at Sumo Dukulah's school complained about his activities back in January, saying he frequently touched them and made comments of a sexual nature. Dukulah was suspended … for just a week.
In retrospect, parents of the boys say, they should've taken the allegations more seriously:
At first, (parent Larry) Dockwood thought Dukulah's tough teaching style was being misunderstood by his son.
"Now, I look at
Trenton Fires Official Connected To Philly Cheating Scandal
By Joel Mathis 4/23/2013
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It's a rough spring for Lola Marie O'Rourke. In March, the former principal of Locke School in West Philly handed in her teaching credentials rather than face discipline in a burgeoning scandal over cheating on standardized assessment tests in Philly schools. Now, less than two months later, Plan B has appeared to fail as well: The Trenton school board voted Monday to fire O'Rourke from her newer job, as a literacy supervisor in the district’s office of curriculum, instruction and assessment. Cheaters never prosper, but O'Rourke had done OK this year: Her Jersey job paid $121,970 annually.
Philly Education Reporter Leaves For National Gig
By Joel Mathis 4/23/2013
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Benjamin Herold, who has doggedly covered the Philadelphia education beat for The Notebook and NewsWorks, announced today he's leaving local coverage and taking a national gig with Education Week:
Via the Dep't of Bittersweet Announcements: I'm leaving @newsworkswhyy & the #phillyeducation beat...to go cover #edtech for @educationweek!— Benjamin Herold (@BenjaminBHerold) April 23, 2013
Along with the Inky's Pulitzer-winning Kristen Graham, Herold has defined the ed beat in Philadelphia in recent years, pursuing stories about the likelihood of cheating on standardized tests during the reign of former (and late) Supt. Arlene Ackerman. That reporting helped pull the thread that held Philly's self-delusion together:
Philadelphia Getting into the Cyber School Business
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 4/18/2013
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Pennsylvania's two biggest cyber charter school operators--Agora and PA Cyber--are involved in federal corruption allegations. So depending on how you look at it, the news that the Philadelphia Public School District is getting in the cyber school business is either really good or really bad news. On the one hand, there seem to be systemic problems with the way cyber schools operate, and their efficacy is dubious. On the other hand, William Hite and the PPSD project 75% of the new cyber school students will have been wrested away from those schools. In addition, they say these schools will cost
Student Brings Loaded .38 To Samuel S. Fels High School
By Joel Mathis 4/17/2013
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KYW Newsradio reports that a student brought a .38 handgun to Fels High School in Northeast Philadelphia. The student was taken into custody. "According to investigators, a student entered the school building and placed his backpack down to be examined by the metal detector x-ray machine. The machine spotted the gun inside the backpack and the student then took off and ran out of the school."
