Local Educator Wants Philly Pro Teams To Underwrite School Athletics
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With the Philadelphia school district in a cash crunch (see related stories), one educator is proposing that the local professional sports teams pitch in to save high school athletics.
The School District of Philadelphia says interscholastic sports will be eliminated next year without more city and state funding (see related story).
Enter Chris Lehmann, the principal of Science Leadership Academy, who has launched an online petition calling on Philadelphia's pro sports teams to fill the financial gap.
"While I am sensitive to all that the sports teams already do for our city," Lehmann tells KYW Newsradio, "this really is a moment in time where everyone who cares about the children of Philadelphia has to ask themselves, 'What more can we do?' "
Lehmann notes that last year's school district athletics budget was $7 million while the four pro teams brought in a combined $800 million.
Lehmann is hoping for 10,000 signatures on his petition to present to the teams.
