Activists Opposed To Proposed School Closures Offer Their Own Plan
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A group of school unions and education activists opposed to the plan to revamp Philadelphia schools (see related story), is presenting an alternate plan.
The Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools says the district's premise of a fiscal crisis is flawed -- that the crisis was created by a lack of funding. So the coalition is presenting its own 10-point plan to keep schools open and put more resources into classrooms.
The first recommendation: Restoring state funds cut by Governor Corbett, says Andi Perez of the Group Youth United for Change.
"Corbett's budget hurt education around the state, not just Philadelphia. And we need to come up with a unified strategy with other districts around the state and restore the funding formula from 2008."
The Coalition includes student activists, as well as the teachers and custodians unions. The coalition is calling for a moratorium on school building closures until the community impact is measured. The group presents its plan to superintendent William Hite on Friday.
