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PSU Blog

Tags >> Education Stakeholders
Jan 25, 2012

The Future of Chester

kobymurp

The future of the Chester Upland School District In Delaware County is and has been up in the air for quite some time now.

As a result of the devastating state budget cuts to education Chester Upland’s school district went under financially.

Chester Upland gets nearly 70 percent of its annual funding from the state but lost almost 20 percent of its allotment because of severe budget cuts according the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Even with the well being of students on the line the state is not stepping in to rectify the financial instability that many rightfully argue was pushed by the states multi-million dollar cuts to education.

In fact as recently as January 17th, U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson ordered the state advance $3.2 million to the Chester Upland School District so it could meet its payroll for the time being.

Regardless of the state’s claims that the Chester Upland School District mismanaged its budget, students shouldn’t have to suffer not knowing whether or not they will be able to keep attending their schools.

Teachers shouldn’t have to question whether they will be paid and whether they will be able to continue teaching their pupils.

Remarkably, before the federal court ruling for the $3.2 million advance of funds the teachers vowed to teach without pay for as long as they could.

That is absolute dedication to not only their profession but also to the  state’s most precious resource: our students.

Why doesn’t the state display such dedication to its students and their instructors?

Furthermore why would any state allow conditions like this to go on this long?

Will you join students & parents from across Pennsylvania to demand that Governor Corbett make equitable school funding a top priority in the next budget?

You must register online in order to reserve a seat on one of the Philadelphia buses: www.showloveforeducation.eventbrite.com





















kobymurp

Since 2009 the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools (CNS) has been working to engage leaders of the School District and the community in  addressing school climate issues that don’t push students into the criminal justice system .

The Campaign for Nonviolent Schools believes that by ending bias violence, the school to prison pipeline, and using restorative justice practices we can heal our schools and communities.

The work CNS does is important because nonviolent schools and communities can lead students to successful lives and as a result successful communities. The Campaign for Nonviolent Schools also brings together 11 diverse organizations from around the city all the while keeping youth voice and youth-created solutions at the forefront.

In honor of Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence, youth and adults from around Philadelphia are coming together to take action to create nonviolent schools and communities.  

On MLK Day, Monday, January 16th, from 1pm-4pm at  Arch Street Methodist Church (55 N Broad St), join the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools for an expert panel of youth and adults, and workshops that will give you concrete skills and steps you can take to reduce violence.  

Some of the panel speakers will be Steve Korr from the International Institute for Restorative Practices, Ayesha Imani of Freedom Schools, Helen Gym of Asian Americans United and youth leader Joshua Glenn of CNS and the Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project (YASP).

Workshops will include: Implementing Restorative Practices, Ending Bias Violence, Creating Nonviolent Schools, and Ending the School to Prison Pipeline.  This event is free and open to the public.  

Pre-register for the event at: www.endingviolence.eventbrite.com

King quote regarding the urgency of helping others


nijmie

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICIAL VISITS PHILADELPHIA TO

MEET WITH YOUTH TO DISCUSS COLLEGE ACCESS AND COMPLETION

Alberto Retana, the U.S. Department of Education’s director of community outreach, will travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday, Aug. 11, to meet with a diverse group of youth to discuss college access and completion. He will engage them in a discussion on how school, family and community can help them establish and promote a culture where college graduation is the norm rather than the exception. The discussion will take place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, at the Philadelphia Student Union, 4205 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.       The visit to Philadelphia is part of a National Youth Listening Tour that will engage students and use their feedback to inform federal policies on turnaround strategies for low-performing schools, enhance family engagement to support student achievement, improve graduation rates, and promote efforts to meet the President’s national goal of once again leading the world in college completion by 2020.