The School Reform Commission's efforts to turn around Philadelphia's troubled school district have been reenergized recently by a number of victories over and within City Council.
Ronald Buckwalter, a federal district judge, announced last week that he would dismiss Council's lawsuit against the commission, advising that the case should be heard in a state court.
City Council, in conjunction with several community and parent groups, had been suing Mayor John Street and Governor Mark Schweiker, claiming that the state's school takeover, which resulted in the commission's formation, was unconstitutional. They also sought an injunction to block any further action by the commission.
The agreement between Street and Schweiker was reached after months of controversy over possible solutions for Philadelphia's ailing public schools.
Despite the judge's ruling, City Council plans to refile in a federal court. Similar lawsuits have already been dismissed by the state courts.
"We're going back to the district court, asking the court to issue an injunction not withstanding the previous ruling, because the law is that even if... your case ought to be heard in state court, if there is an impending action which might cause irreparable harm, the federal court can still issue an injunction," City Council Technical Services Director Stanley Shapiro said.
Shapiro claims that this case does indeed warrant such an injunction because of "the possible issuance of contracts [by the commission] which will result in the dismissal of many key personnel in the school district and the denial of constitutional rights."
Last week, the commission selected several consulting firms -- including Edison Schools, Inc. -- to help with the management of the schools, and although it could not sign contracts with these firms with the suit pending, they are free to do so now.
Despite City Council's plans to refile, the commission received further encouragement when Council President Anna Verna, Councilman Michael Nutter and Commission Chairman Jim Nevels reached an agreement yesterday to provide additional funding for the school district.
The plan would provide a $300 million bond for the system.
Last week, Council rejected a similar plan that would have cost as much as $750 million over 30 years. The new agreement, however, will cost roughly $400 million and will be paid off over a period of 20 years.
In short, the total sum that the school district will be receiving each year will be reduced by $4 million.
The commission and the Council members involved are optimistic about the plan's success in Council.
"It certainly looks favorable," Nutter said. "There are a number of other issues, but it's moving in the right direction, and I hope that we will be able to resolve it in a positive fashion."
A City Council hearing for this plan is set for April 10.
Meanwhile, the commission has announced plans to create a system of community advisory panels to get parents and students involved in the commission's decision-making process. The commission will create a 25-member, city-wide council, in addition to 10 area advisory panels with 13 members each.
"We have been working on creating a community engagement piece to the commission for some time, and they are now at the stage where they can actually solicit members," Commission spokeswoman Carey Dearnley said. "The idea is that they will be a channel of communication first and foremost, and they'll be able to advise and evaluate what reform takes place."
The 10 area panels will be responsible for examining the academic achievement of schools within their area. Five community members, five parents and three students will serve on each panel.
"The [area panels] will be the troops on the ground, and they'll be responsible for concerns of schools in their area," Dearnley said.
One representative from each of these panels will then serve on the city-wide council, in addition to 10 community members and five students.
Local parent groups are pleased, though apprehensive, about the plan.
"They haven't clearly laid out what the role will be," said Sarah Gilliam, executive director of the Parents Union for Public Schools in Philadelphia. "They have merely updated us on the overall plan."
Gilliam said she hopes to see the panels and council accomplish several goals.
"Number one is that [the district] stop the unfair funding formula," Gilliam said. "Number two would be developing a parent involvement program.... And third would be to set up mutual accountability through the advisory panels.... We're hoping that those put in place will have extensive educational background on policies and practices of other school districts and they will be representative of Philadelphia's diverse culture."
