Election+Day+Poll

Vernon House, 5800 Germantown Ave., Phila., PA 19144 215-849-5800**  //email: parentsunitedphila@gmail.com [|http://parentsunitedphila. googlepages.com/]//
 * Parents United for Public Education

April 24, 2009 Dear Parents United friends: We're taking an informal poll to ask whether you think the School District should add an extra day to the end of the year in order to close schools on Election Day. //parentsunitedphila@gmail.com// Background: For more information about Parents United, check out Parents United's website at[|http://parentsunitedphila. googlepages.com].     Helen Gym Parents United for Public Education
 * Reply YES in the subject heading if you think the District should keep schools in session on May 19th to make up a snow day and avoid tacking an extra day to the end of the year. //parentsunitedphila@gmail.com//
 * Reply NO if you think children should have a day off from school on election day. //parentsunitedphila@gmail.com//
 * Reply YES! if you think this issue means enough to you for Parents United to take up with City and District officials. //parentsunitedphila@gmail.com//
 * Read a brief story here: [|http://www.philly.com/philly/ news/local/43607987.html] and one parent's opinion on the issue here:[|http://www. youngphillypolitics.com/ election_day_not_school_ holiday]
 * The District had initially requested having school in session to make up for one of two surprise snow days. City officials pressured the District to keep children out of school that day.
 * Note that schools began closing on Election Day beginning three years ago in response to fears following Sept. 11th. Prior to that schools had been open for Election Day for decades with no incidences of violence directly related to elections.
 * The cost of opening schools in June will amount to several million dollars.

Parents United for Public Education is an independent group of parents working for fiscal accountability; a public process and parent voice in decision-making; and setting priorities that place kids and classrooms first in the School District's budget. For more information, please contact Helen Gym, 215-808-1400. If you do not wish to receive emails, please respond back to parentsunitedphila@gmail.com. Visit us online at//[|http://parentsunitedphila. googlepages.com/].//