SRC Chair Doubtful Superintendent Will Get All Money Requested To Improve Philly Schools

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia School District Superintendent William Hite says he needs $320 million more to start his action plan for next year (see related story). But the new head of the School Reform Commission warns the district will likely have to make do with less.

Hite this week put a $320 million price tag on his action plan. But new SRC chair Bill Green said the district shouldn’t count on getting that much money from the city and state.

“I think it’s very unlikely that most of that money will appear this year,” Green said.

The $320 million ask is on top of $120 million the district assumes it’ll get from an extension of the city sales tax. Green said the funding fight will continue.

“Dr. Hite has briefed legislative leaders from our Philadelphia delegation and City Council on his request,” he said, “and we will do everything we can to get the resources we get.”

Green repeated that he believes regardless of money, schools won’t improve until teachers agree to work rule changes.

“The fact of the matter is,” he said, “we are very unlikely to achieve that in Harrisburg unless we have significant changes in the work rules in our schools that will show Harrisburg that Philadelphia is serious about being able to provide education reform.”

The school district also revealed this week it was $14 million short this current school year. If that gap isn’t closed, that figure will have to be addressed in next year’s budget.