PPA+122007

2227 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132 215-236-2100** //email: parentsunitedphila@gmail.com// //http://parentsunitedphilly.googlepages.com///
 * Parents United for Public Education

December 20,2007


 * How do you get from here:**

“We can't do anything today."// PPA Board Chair Joe Ashdale, Oct. 23.

//**To here?**

"I see it [the Parking Authority’s money for City/schools] continuing to go up under the Nutter administration, and you can quote me on that in big, bold letters."// PPA Executive Director Vince Fenerty, Dec. 17, after announcing the Parking Authority will give $1.25 million to the schools for the first time in years.

//Well, it came from parents. Public school parents who decided this past summer to make this a campaign, not only to get money for our City and Schools but to put public education and the needs of our schools in the lap of every single agency and civic and political official in the City. In the meantime, state reps, Harrisburg and the Governor took notice.

The people who did this, for the most part, weren’t paid; in fact most of us paid to do it. We hired babysitters, took off of work, ran around on public transportation, and, of course, paid plenty of parking fees. We spoke with passion about the needs of our schools, about our libraries and vocational schools, about class sizes and public decency. We wrote letters to the editor, contacted our state reps and council people, and even crashed a Harrisburg Appropriations Committee meeting.

It didn’t hurt to have parents with financial experience like Steve Bell and Mary Jo Kannon who noticed the PPA’s hoarding of $46 million in cash reserves. They spent hours reviewing and analyzing years of Parking Authority audits that had been largely overlooked by the City Controller and the School District. It was important to have an engaged media investigating every angle of the Parking Authority’s political and financial connections.

We had allies in the struggle. JUNTOS, TaxiWorkers Alliance and the Media Mobilizing Project supported our calls for transparency and accountability. Advocate groups and education groups signed letters of appeal and joined us at midday PPA board meetings.

It was easy to see the news and think that getting from here to there was the work of a few power brokers, but it was a far cry from that. This was, and should be celebrated as a people’s movement and the rising of parents and citizens who, despite the difficulties of our public schools, still believe in and demand a quality education for all children.

So on behalf of Parents United for Public Education, thank you for your support in this struggle, for your participation, and for your phone calls, letters, attendance and passion. Let’s be encouraged that change doesn’t always come from the top down. Sometimes the most powerful and meaningful change is from the bottom up.

We leave you with a few memorable quotes, and words from the Governor this week as he signed off on the red light camera bill .//

· “The city's elected leaders, especially our state representatives, need to stand with the parents and school children and oversee wasteful spending at the Parking Authority.” Anne LaBrum, Meredith parent, Daily News letter, Nov. 2. //· “If it weren’t criminal, it’d be comical,”// Rev. Paul Weeks, JS Jenks, in a meeting with the Inquirer editorial board, Nov. 2007.
 * "When are the children of Philadelphia going to stop being taken for granted? We are only asking for what is rightfully theirs." Greg Wade, Phila. H&S Council, Oct. 22.
 * "It's a beautiful patronage haven. It’s wonderful to be able to pay your friends . . and punish your enemies. But I come to speak for the least of us – our children." Rev. Leroi Simmons, Germantown Clergy Initiative, Nov. 26.
 * "If you don't want to work with us, we're going to keep working on you." Gerald Wright, JS Jenks parent, Nov. 26.
 * “It's a reason why people - not only in Philadelphia but in many other parts - are just sick and tired of the state taking our schools and not taking responsibility for them, and taking over an entity like the Parking Authority and just letting it run amok with waste and patronage and greed.” Helen Gym, Masterman parent, Dec. 12.
 * "We'll take this victory, but we want to be here for the check-signing to make sure it really happens. And we'll never stop fighting for our children." Aissia Richardson, GAMP, Dec. 17 following the announcement of a victory.

Earlier this month, many of us cried foul when a last minute ambush spoiled an effort by Rep. Dwight Evans to use the red light camera bill to fund Philadelphia public schools. Gov. Rendell used the bill signing to speak out on behalf of funding needs for the Philly schools.

[Information is missing due to copying error - contact Helen Gym below for complete text]

Helen Gym Parents United for Public Education 215-808-1400 hgbf@aol.com

//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 Aissia Richardson,       215-236-2100  , or 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://parentsunitedphilly.googlepages.com/].