Parents+United+022908

This is a February update from Parents United for Public Education. Visit us online at [|http://parentsunitedphila.googlepages.com]. ** ALERT! School budgets released this week ** All schools receive their 2008-2009 budgets this week. As a parent, you have a right to view your school’s budget. Here’s a checklist of things to ask about: ** Teacher allocation: ** The SRC has made lower class size in grades K-3 a top priority. Did your school lose any teachers? Did it gain enough teachers to balance out overcrowding? Parents United advocates that all schools have a baseline guaranteed school budget that grows every year and provides identified core classroom initiatives and supports, including reduced class size, art/music/science/gym, full time nurses, librarian, tutoring and mentoring services, bilingual personnel as needed, healthy food options and accessible transportation. If you notice dramatic changes in your school budget, let us know. mail us at parentsunitedphila@gmail.com or call us at 215-236-2100. ** Mark Your Calendars: ** 1. Let the District know what your own school priorities are. Take a moment to do our parent survey (coming via email and also on our website) and pass it along. We’ll be bringing the results to the District. 2. Bring Parents United to your school to talk about using budgets to get real change. Call Aissia at 215-236-2100 for more information.
 * ** Split **** grades: ** The SRC has pledged to eliminate split grades across the district. Please ensure that any budget changes will not result in a split grade unless pre-determined by the school for non-financial reasons.
 * ** Arts/Music: ** The SRC has declared both art //and// music instruction a “must have” for every school. Did you gain an art or music teacher? Did your school lose anything in this area?
 * **Nurses, counselors, librarians:** The SRC has defined these as priority areas. Your school should not have lost anything on this front (even if it didn't gain anything).
 * ** “discretionary” funds: ** These are additional dollars beyond staff allotment. Did your level of discretionary funding change at all? If yes, were you given any notification or explanation as to why and what the consequences may be for your school?
 * ** Deseg funding: ** The District warned that 2007-8 was the last year for 107 schools to receive deseg funding. This amount can vary from several thousand dollars to well over $100,000 at some schools. Did your school lose deseg funding? Was it made up in other ways to your school?
 * //School District// //budget hearing:// April 16th, 1 p.m., 440 N. Broad Street.
 * //City Council hearings on District budget:// April 28-29, with public testimony on the 29th from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
 * Take Action! **
 * Take Action! **