Phila. Charter School Orchestrates Street Protest Over Disputed Growth
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Students, teachers, and administrators at a North Philadelphia charter school shut down a block of Girard Avenue this morning to protest what they say is the impending shutdown of their school.
Under the watchful eyes of teachers and Walter Palmer, founder of the charter school that bears his name, rows of students dressed in their red uniforms stood in the middle of Girard Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Streets, and chanted "Save our schools!" as police detoured traffic.
Palmer says time is running out. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission is attempting to revoke the school's charter, citing substandard academic performance and financial issues.
Palmer accuses the SRC of financially strangling the school by withholding funding.
"Their goal is to only fund us for 675 children, and we have 1,350 children," he said.
The SRC says the school doubled its student population without permission.
Palmer says the SRC has withheld about $300,000 every month since July. At that rate, he says, he'll be forced to close the doors by mid-year.
The next step in the revocation process is a public hearing scheduled for October 15th. Meanwhile, a related issue about uncontrollerd charter school growth is now before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
