The process will augment compliance actions such as Sheriff Sales, which are currently used to collect revenue owed to the City.  In a process similar to receivership, the Sequestrator, appointed by the Court of Common Pleas on petition of the City, will collect rent and pay expenses, including all taxes.

This is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Director of Finance, the Department of Revenue, the Office of the Chief Revenue & Collections Officer, and the Law Department that will focus special attention on collecting delinquent real estate taxes. Since a significant portion of all real estate taxes provides funding for the Philadelphia School District’s budget, the enhanced process for collecting revenue will benefit Philadelphia’s school children and their families.
The City is seeking individuals, organizations, or businesses, including but not limited to, law firms and property management firms, to serve as Sequestrators.

Any vendors with the required skills and background who are interested in this opportunity can review the RFP on eContractPhilly (
https://secure.phila.gov/eContract/
choose “contract opportunities).  All proposals are due by June, 28, 2013 at 5:00PM.

For months, the School District has been open and honest about the impact that its $304 million budget shortfall would have on District students and employees and the quality of education that it would be able to provide.  Today is the reality of that disastrous, bare-bones budget.

The layoffs of the 3,783 teachers and school support staff is devastating not only to those individuals who will lose their jobs but to the thousands of students and parents and the school communities that will suffer because of these regrettable personnel reductions and other budgetary cuts.

This has been an exceptionally difficult process for Dr. Hite, the School District leadership and the School Reform Commission.  No one wants to close schools, lay off teachers or staff but the current leadership is determined to make the District’s fiscal health, immediate and long-term, a top priority.

To help the children of this City, there has to be a real commitment from the Commonwealth, City and the unions to find critical funding for Philadelphia public education.  I have proposed a revenue package that would provide the District with $95 million in vital funding.  Now, we need action in Harrisburg and City Council to pass that legislation.  We need Harrisburg to do its share and support the School District.  And, we need the education unions to accept critical economic and work rule changes.

If we come together, now, we may be able to stem the tide on these grievous cuts and give our young people the kind of education they deserve.

Philadelphia, June 5, 2013–  The Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, in partnership with the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will offer up to seven New Urban Mechanics Challenge Grants, totaling $25,000, to individuals or groups who create an innovative project that incorporates art and design to address civic challenges or improve a public space.

“To find answers to the challenges of today, City governments have to think creatively and engage with citizens and businesses outside of government to find new solutions to civic challenges,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter.  “Our hope is to leverage the creative strength and problem-solving power of our residents with the New Urban Mechanics Challenge Grant competition.”

The Challenge Grants will range in value from $2,000 to $7,000.  Grant awardees will also receive support and project input from the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.

“Great cities are increasingly driven by creativity and innovation, and we are very excited to work with the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics on this innovative competition to source and support solutions to Philadelphia’s civic challenges that utilize the arts and design,” said Gary Steuer, City of Philadelphia Chief Cultural Officer.

The grant application period opens today. Applications and additional information is available on Change By Us PHL (
http://philly.changeby.us
).  To be eligible, Challenge Grant applicants must be based in Philadelphia and create a project posting on Change By Us PHL.  The application period will close Wednesday, July 3.

Winners will be selected by a review committee, made up of representatives of the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, the Office of Transportation and Utilities and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Grant funding is provided by The Knight Foundation and will managed by CEOs for Cities.

“This design competition is another display of Philadelphia’s efforts to harness the power of citizens to solve civic challenges and we are excited to support it,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Philadelphia Program Director for The Knight Foundation.

An in-person information session on the New Urban Mechanics Challenge Grant competition will be held at the Municipal Services Building, 16^th floor, Conference Room B on Wednesday, June 12, 1pm.

His prepared remarks follow, check against delivery:

“Greater Philadelphia is the 5^th largest metropolitan area in the United States of America.  Philadelphia is essential to the economic growth of Pennsylvania, and high quality education is essential to a skilled and competent work force.    One in every 11 children in Pennsylvania – nearly 200,000 students – attends a Philadelphia public school.

“Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Hite and the School Reform Commission, the Philadelphia School District has been putting its house in order and gaining national recognition for successful reforms, including the expansion of high-performing charter and district schools as well as turnarounds of low-performing schools.

“However, despite this progress, the public education system in Philadelphia is underfunded, and the School District currently faces a $304 million structural deficit. This hurts all public school students—district and charter alike.  We have seen dramatic growth in the number of charter schools since the first 4 charters opened in 1997.  And we anticipate that nearly 60,000 of the 200,000 Philadelphia School District students will be educated in a charter school next year – that is nearly 30% of our public school population.

“High-quality charters have become a vital part of our public education landscape.  In the last 10 years, our high school graduation rate has improved by 20%.  High-performing charter schools have played an enormous role in those gains.  Charter schools have been, and will continue to, play an important role in the diverse array of public school options here in Philadelphia.  However, if we do not address the crippling budget deficit we have in front of us, Philadelphia’s charter schools could see a 12% cut in funding next year.  This is on top of an already drastic 7% cut this year. This continued funding reduction will negatively affect all charter schools and will dramatically impact some smaller community-based charter schools.

“Charter schools are already feeling the brunt of these fiscal challenges.  This year, twenty-one charter schools applied for enrollment expansions.  None of those requests were granted—meaning thousands of children remain on waiting lists.  It is imperative for charters that the District secures new revenue and achieves fiscal stability to provide for more high-quality District and charter seats.

“In the meantime, the City and the District have made, and will continue to make, the difficult decisions needed to right-size the district, reduce administrative staff as well as secure and pursue reductions in personnel costs through a professionalized contract.  We will continue to close underutilized buildings while seeking to reduce the number of children in chronically poor performing schools. Every child in Philadelphia deserves a high quality education…every child.

“Charter and District schools and more importantly, their families, are hurting. That is why charter schools are committed to working with me and the District, senators and state representatives and Dr. Hite and all of us for more City and State dollars to fund all of our public schools.

“I want to take a moment to thank the members of the Philadelphia Great Schools Compact – our citywide commitment to high quality schools.  The Compact has paved the way for unprecedented level of collaboration and partnership between two sectors of public education that have not always worked well together. I want to acknowledge that group for its leadership and commitment and dedication because they are showing what everyone needs to show—which is that the only issue here, the only group that really matters is not the adults—it is our children.

“Adults need to learn how to work together on behalf of our children and actually resolve the immediate financial crisis and provide a path. This is very important.

“So one of the things we hear is that year after year after year the District comes asking for money.  Well you’re right, because year after year after year the District doesn’t get what it has asked for, and when you shortchange someone, they have to come back year after year after year.

“This year is different. The request that’s being made—the $304 million gap—actually brings structural, financial stability to the School District in their five year plan, which now for the first time they put forward a five year plan that is really balanced for all five years.  That is why we need fill this gap right now so we’re not back here year, after year, after year.

“These ‘asks’ are an interrelated package, as has been mentioned:

• $60 million from the City;
• $120 million from the State;
• Financial cost reductions and a professionalized contract for teachers and principals; and,
• A weighted, enrollment-driven funding formula that is based on student need.

“If this package is secured, this entire package will bring the District to fiscal balance in a five year plan.  It is very, very important to emphasize that point.  This is the moment to solve this crisis so we’re not back here year after year after year. It is time to take a step to the next level.

“I’d like to focus on the funding formula for a moment.  This formula is not just about what’s fair for Philadelphia, but basically if you talk to residents outside of the city of Philadelphia—in the House, in the Senate, Democrats, Republicans—increasingly folks tell me to recognize that it’s not just about Philadelphia, but for every school district. All 500 school districts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania need a change in the funding formula.  Dozens of school districts are suffering financially as a result of the current formula that is in place now. This is not just a Philadelphia issue.

“This formula is essential to the long-term financial stability and academic outcomes of our children’s education.  According to a recent study, Pennsylvania is one of only three states in the United States of America that doesn’t fund its own school districts based on the actual number of public school students who are served.

“I am proud to say that the City of Philadelphia has increased its local contribution in educating our children by $90 million annually—and I recognize that we are asking City leaders to make another heavy lift.  The bottom line is that we cannot and will not let our schoolchildren down. This is our responsibility as adults to look after our children.

“I am looking for support here in Harrisburg for my proposed package, which will raise that $95 million in City funds for schools. It includes:

• Increasing the liquor-by-the-drink tax from 10% to 15%, resulting in $22 million generated;
• Establishing a $2 per pack cigarette tax, resulting in $45 million generated; and
• Improving the collection of delinquent taxes, resulting in $28 million generated.

“We call on our state legislators in both the House and the Senate as well as Governor’s office to:

• Provide $120 million in new funding for Philadelphia public schools;
• Pass legislation that authorizes the City to increase the liquor tax, allow us to establish a cigarette tax and to go after tax delinquents more aggressively; and
• Create a bipartisan commission to establish a fair and equitable funding formula that is based on enrollment and students needs.

“We must do this for our children and for their future.  Thank you.”

The School Reform Commission fulfilled its fiscal duty by approving a $2.4 billion budget Thursday evening, but no responsible adult can support the destructive level of cuts, more than $300 million, that this budget would require. I fully support Superintendent Hite’s view that losing art and music programs, after-school programming, and critical staff like assistant principals, guidance counselors, secretaries and others will turn our schools into holding areas for our young people; schools in name only.

We can avert this terrible threat to our children and their future if we focus on three critical issues. First, we must strongly support passage in Philadelphia City Council and the Pa. General Assembly of the proposed revenue package that includes increasing the liquor tax and creating a cigarette tax in Philadelphia. Second, we must urge the State to increase its level of support for the education of Pennsylvania children here in Philadelphia and across the state. And third, we must support the School District’s efforts to redesign teacher work rules to reduce costs and enhance the education environment for our children.

With this added revenue and work rule changes, the School Reform Commission can amend its budget next month and prevent the worst educational outcome in our recent history. For these critical changes to happen, we need all of Philadelphia to come together – parents and students, taxpayers and business, religious and community leaders – and let our elected officials know that this school budget is not an acceptable reality for our city’s children and that added funding can prevent these outrageous reductions.

We are at a critical point in the history of our City and State, moving toward a more technologically advanced future. We must not let our children down. We must prepare them to compete in a global economy. Now is the time for action. Our children and our City need your voices to be heard and for you to be engaged in this fight for the future of our City – educating our young people!

“As Mayor, my goal has been to ensure that every child in the City of Philadelphia is provided a quality education – that each young person has a chance to be successful in the classroom, whether in a School District run school or a Charter, and later to be a productive, self-sustaining adult.

We adults owe our young people a quality education that will help them develop, will challenge them and will teach them new and useful things.

We owe our children a rich educational experience with music and arts programs, with after-school activities and small class sizes.  We owe our students an educational experience in which we have invested in their teachers, books, computers and learning materials.

Every day, I talk about the requirements of a 21^st century economy. Foremost is my concern that we have an abundance of well-educated Philadelphians to fill the new jobs of an increasingly technical and knowledge-based economy.  We will not progress as a city of the future, if we don’t invest now in our children’s education.

If we don’t focus on our young people and invest in their education now and in the years to come, we won’t have a 21^st century workforce ready for the new economy. And we’ll have grave difficulties in attracting the new jobs that we need.

Dr. Hite and the SRC have been quite candid about the School District’s fiscal situation over the past year or so. And they have acted, cutting more than $315 million in school-based costs.

If we don’t provide the new funding being sought by the SRC and Dr. Hite, our young people will suffer under a devastating bare-bones budget.  The quality of education in Philadelphia will plummet.  And, we will all suffer as a result – poverty, unemployment, crime, lost wages and a lack of personal opportunity.

Last week, members of the Philadelphia legislative delegation to Harrisburg and I hosted a media conference at Andrew Jackson Public School.  We talked about the need for a “shared sacrifice” by the City, the Commonwealth, the District and the school unions, a shared sacrifice to protect and invest in public education and, most importantly, our children.

I was proud to stand with other elected officials and pledge my support, as I am today.

Today, I am announcing a proposed revenue package to generate new money for investing in the education of Philadelphia school children.  This set of revenue proposals is sustainable and substantial – and the key is, it’s doable.

As I’ve said previously, I support an increase to the liquor by the drink tax.  Our proposed increase will generate approximately an additional $22 million by increasing the tax from 10 percent to 15 percent.  This increase would start on July 1, 2013.

I am also proposing a City cigarette tax.  The City currently has a tobacco tax but cigarettes are not included in that tax.  The cigarette tax we are proposing would begin in January 2014 and at $2 per pack, it would generate about $45 million in just half of the fiscal year.

Almost all of the revenue from this tax would be used to invest in educating our children but a very small amount would go to our Health Department to continue the Smoking Cessation Program.

There are almost 280,000 smokers in Philadelphia.  That is a huge number of people. We have 2,100 smoking related deaths each year and enormous smoking related health care costs, as a result.

And unfortunately, many of those smokers started when they were school-aged students.  Death from smoking is the number one cause of death for Philadelphians.  We must address this great challenge.

The increase to the liquor by the drink tax and the new cigarette tax proposal will require General Assembly authorization and approval by the City Council. We expect bills to be introduced in the Pennsylvania House and Senate very soon. Let me thank the chairs of our delegations – House Chairwoman Representative Cherelle Parker and Chairwoman Senator Shirley Kitchen for their leadership, and all of the members of our State delegation for their concern and their commitment.

The last piece of our revenue package is improved tax collection.  It’s something taxpaying Philadelphians have demanded, and we’ve put together a very comprehensive program.

Under the leadership of Revenue Commissioner Clarena Tolson and Chief Revenue Collections Officer Tom Knudsen, we anticipate an improvement in tax collection that will result in an additional $28 million for educating our students in the coming fiscal year.

We will focus on delinquent real estate taxes, liquor by the drink, Use and Occupancy and school income taxes. We’re going to get much more aggressive with these non-paying taxpayers and we’ll use outside collection agencies where needed.

In total, that is $95 million in new, first year, City-generated revenue, which will benefit the 200,000 Philadelphia children served by the Philadelphia School District and our many Charter schools.

I propose these two “use” taxes because we have raised general broad based taxes twice in the last two years on our residents and business owners and we cannot and should not keep asking them for more.

Before I turn it over to Dr. Hite, I want to say one last thing.  When we were kids, we had strong schools and a strong school system, regardless of what school system we attended, that prepared us for the future.

My education in school and at home is a huge part of why I chose a career in public service.  My education is and continues to be the main reason that I have had any success in my life.

The children of this City deserve what we had.  They deserve a high quality education.  And I am going to fight for them to have it.

I want to introduce Dr. William Hite, who in his first year as Philadelphia Superintendent, faced the systemic fiscal issues at the School District and has made it clear that “the buck stops here.”

He and the SRC have made tough choices. They made those choices to ensure the quality of education the School District provides to our children.  He has my full support.

Now, it’s time for our political leaders to step up or step aside.”

“The future success of our young people and the continued growth of Philadelphia’s 21^st century economy depends on our children receiving a high quality education and rich learning experience.  The Philadelphia School District serves 200,000 Philadelphia children each day while operating under a severe budget shortfall.  That shortfall requires a shared sacrifice from the City, the State, the School District and the unions to ensure our children receive the education they deserve,” said Mayor Nutter.  “This package of revenue proposals is sustainable, substantial and doable.  It is a $95 million investment in the education of our youth and, I hope, the first act in a series to make the needs of our children the top priority.”

The proposed liquor by the drink tax would increase the existing tax from 10% to 15%.  This increase will generate an additional $22 million and would take effect July 1, 2013.

The new, $2 per pack City cigarette tax will begin January 1, 2014.  This proposed tax will generate $45 million for the School District during its first half-year.  Approximately $1 million, generated during the first half-year of the City cigarette tax, will fund the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Smoking Cessation Program.

The increase to the liquor by the drink tax and the new, City cigarette tax proposal will require Pennsylvania General Assembly authorization and City Council approval.  In Harrisburg, the increase to the liquor by the drink tax is Bill No. SD944 and the City cigarette tax is Bill No. SD945.  Both pieces of legislation will be introduced shortly.

In addition, Mayor Nutter detailed that revenue generated by improved tax collections would generate an additional $28 million in FY14.  These collections improvements will focus on delinquent real estate taxes, liquor by the drink, Use and Occupancy, and school income taxes.

“We appreciate the work by Mayor Michael A. Nutter, City Council and the Philadelphia State delegation to bridge the School District of Philadelphia’s financial gap,” said Superintendent Dr. Hite.  “Their support is vital to ensuring our long-term sustainability, improved academic outcomes and critical school support staff and programs.”

Supplemental Links

View the Press Conference

Mayor Nutter’s remarks

Fact sheet

“State Senator Hughes, thank you very much and State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams thank you as well. State Representative Jim Roebuck who is the House Chair for the House Committee on Education and State Representative Curt Thomas who is the House Chair of the Commerce Committee. She wanted to be here, I know, our house delegation chair, State Rep Cherelle Parker has a significant conflict on her schedule.

“Dr. Hite thank you for your leadership and Chairman Ramos thank you and the SRC as well. Dr. Lori Shorr, thank you for your continued commitment as the City’s Chief Education Officer to make sure that my office and the entire city government is focused on the most important constituency here in the City of Philadelphia – the children of this city.

“We are at a great school and great schools are great not only because of wonderful students but also because of great principals, teachers, faculty and staff, and so I want to ask our young people and others to give a big round of applause to Principal Kaplan. Our music teacher, Chris Arjoricas, thank you. And the school’s rock band. I loved that rendition of “Shake it Out.”

“State Rep Mark Cohen thank you for your presence here as well as State Representative Jordan Harris. Can we please give all our elected officials a big round of applause?

“I want to say to you and to the young people here at Andrew Jackson Public School that it is a pleasure to be here with you. I am constantly saying to the folks back at the shop that if I had my way I would start every day at a school somewhere here in the city. I know that it’s almost impossible, but every chance I get to come to a school, I really do look forward to being with you and whether it’s a K-8, or just a middle school or high school, a 5-12 or whatever the configuration is, I love being around young people.

“You inspire me, you remind me of why 30 years ago this year I decided that I wanted to be actively engaged in public service, that I’ve dedicated my life to trying to make things better for everyone here in my hometown, that the opportunities that I have had in this city, that every one of you – no matter where you live what, no matter where you come from, no matter who your parents are, or what they do, or what they don’t do, that you should have a chance to be a successful young person here in the city, and that as adults if we rededicate ourselves to that singular mission of being focused on young people, investing in young people, supporting young people, how much greater a city we would be and how much better your lives would be.

“So I’m going to give you three words today and my comments will support the foundation of these three words – collaboration, coordination and commitment. And so when we talk about art and music in our schools, every school in Philadelphia should have an art and music and culture program. Every school in this city should have those types of programs, every one of them.

“And you know as well as I do that over the last few years the School District has experienced severe, severe budget shortfalls. And even this year despite borrowing $300 million literally to pay bills and making more than $315 million in cuts this year and over $700 million last year, the school district is still facing a $304 million shortfall that is dangerously hurting the educational opportunities for our children and the quality of education that we as adults should be providing.

“A few weeks ago Dr. Hite and the SRC in the greatest example of openness and transparency and honesty laid out for us, unfortunately, a devastating picture of what a bare bones budget would look like because this Superintendent and this SRC said that we are only going to budget with the dollars that we know that we have, not hope for, not ask for, not anticipate it, not begging and borrowing but rather this is what we have and this is what it will provide.

“That is a very stark picture because that is not an education for the children of this city – that is buildings that are open and people who are there but it is not an educational opportunity for children. That was a picture that showed schools with no assistant principals, no guidance counselors, no teacher’s aides, no lunch monitors, no extracurricular activities, no afterschool programs. That’s not a school. That’s not a school.

“In addition, it also set out increased class sizes and reduced teaching staff. Before I was Mayor, before any other title that ever meant anything, I’ve been a parent. My son will be thirty years old later this month. My daughter is 18. The most important title that any one of us could ever have is parent, guardian, close relative, someone who has a responsibility for a child, and as a parent and as Mayor of this city, I will not allow a nightmare for the educational opportunities and future for the children of this city to ever become a reality. It will not happen.

“Collaboration, Coordination, Commitment. The only way that we can prevent that nightmare for our children and this city from happening is by all of us working together.

“The City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the School District of Philadelphia, the School Reform Commission, and our public employee school unions must work together and must reach a level of agreement about a shared sacrifice that will protect the educational future and the economic future of our city and more importantly, for our children

“Under the strong leadership and guidance of Dr. Hite and the School Reform Commission Chairman Pedro Ramos, and all the School Reform Commission members, the District has made some very difficult and certainly unpopular decisions and choices to support the school district and its fiscal health as a top priority. And yes, unfortunately, that has also involved the closing of some schools.

“In a system that has 70,000 vacant seats, more than would fill Lincoln Financial Field, we cannot support that level of infrastructure anymore.

“The District has reduced its Central Office staff by nearly half – from 790 to 405 full-time employees, saving $63 million.  The District has reduced contracted services by $21 million, and unneeded books and materials by $30 million.  But the District cannot cut its way out of a budget shortfall so huge, without hurting the quality of education that it provides to 200,000 Philadelphia school students every year.

“You saw over the past few years that we in the City government did not try solely to cut our way out of massive deficits that we faced as the result of the Great Recession either.  You can’t do it.  We made cuts, we cut back in services, we made a series of reductions, but we also put new money on the table.  No one likes raising taxes or providing new revenues, but everyone wants quality service.  Well those two things are just in conflict with each other – they only exist in a fantasy.  We’re dealing with reality.

“And some others have stepped up as well.  The school district bus drivers and maintenance workers, at Local32BJ Local 1201, agreed to a new contract last year that will save the School District about $100 million over the coming years.

“You know that I’m committed to public education.  You know that I’m committed to the children of this city.  And as Dr. Hite has noted: it is time for shared sacrifice on behalf of our children and on behalf of the future of this great city.

“The School District and the SRC have made four specific requests:

-         $60M in new money from the City of Philadelphia, and I support that.

“As I’ve announced previously, I’m committed to working with our City Council to find a way to generate these new revenues for our School District.  City Council President Clarke and I have had preliminary discussions about the prospect of increasing the liquor-by-the-drink tax from its current capped rate at 10% to possibly 15%.  I support that proposal – that would raise somewhere between $20 million and $25 million.

“In addition, I’ve had other discussions with the Council President and we’ve talked about possibly proposing an increase in the tax on cigarettes – this idea is in the preliminary stage of exploration.  We’ll continue to examine a variety of other potential funding options with City Council, and I expect that we will be able to propose a set of recommendations, or a menu of options, within the next week.

-         The District and the SRC have asked for $120 million increase in funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“As we all know over the last few years, the District has lost nearly $300 million in State funding revenue from various funding sources.  This dramatic reduction in funding has contributed to the District’s significant funding gap.  The State has a constitutional obligation to provide our children with “a thorough and efficient education”.  I am proud to stand here with members of the Philadelphia delegation and support Philadelphia’s children, and ask that our State also step up and restore some of the funding that the District has lost over the last few years.

“As an executive, I am fully aware that the State has its own fiscal challenges right now, but I also know that from my own personal discussions with Gov. Corbett that he does care about Philadelphia’s and Pennsylvania’s school students.  I will work in a very positive manner with Gov. Corbett and his Administration, and of course, the General Assembly to seek additional funding to educate our children beyond the additional $90 million in basic education line-item funding the Gov. has already proposed in his budget a few months ago.

“That includes creating a funding stream similar to the charter reimbursement – with 40% of Philadelphia students enrolled in charter schools, it is clear that some of the educational innovation that’s been put forward here in Philadelphia is working.  High-performing charter schools – high-performing charter schools – and high-performing District schools; that must be the focus.  Let’s not get distracted by titles.  High-performing schools, high-performing seats, wherever they are, whoever manages them, that’s what’s critical in this conversation. High-performing schools are an integral part of the Philadelphia public education landscape.  This funding stream will help create more high-performing seats for our young people. Period.

-         Over $100 million in contract savings involving our educators in their contracts.

“As Dr. Hite said earlier, critical reforms in new contracts for teachers and principals are imperative to the future fiscal health of funding education and investing in our children.  I want to be clear: these are conversations that will occur between the District, the SRC and the unions.  But I do support the proposals that will involve a significant amount of savings as a result of work-rule changes and other proposals.  That is what a shared sacrifice looks like.  Everyone has to put something concrete on the table and support our children.

-         The creation of a state-wide funding formula that considers the actual number of students being served, going to school, and their particular needs.

“This formula is not just what’s fair for Philadelphia, but for every school district across the Commonwealth, many of which are struggling.  It’s essential to the long-term financial stability of investing in the education of our children, and as I understand it at least, Pennsylvania is one of only three states in the United States of America that doesn’t use a weighted student funding formula.

“Now you might think that this is a lot, and it certainly is, but I want you to consider the cost if we don’t come together and act now.  I want to emphasize that these ‘asks’ are not singular in nature – they have to be taken together.  There must be a whole package put together that makes educating our children a priority, while preserving the fiscal stability of public education in Philadelphia.  These ‘asks’ are inter-dependent.  We need the City and the State to work together in concert for our children to make sure that we receive and provide a quality education for them and for their futures.

“Each of us has a role to play as public servants to prepare our children for a productive role in the future and in the economy of our City.  Our decisions today will impact the quality of life for Philadelphians and for these young people for decades to come.  We must collaborate, coordinate and then demonstrate our commitment.  Thank you.”

COLBSA professional staff will vacate the building at 22^nd and Winter Streets by June 30, the COLBSA retail store will vacate the building at 22^nd and Winter Streets by October 31st.  The City of Philadelphia will in turn reimburse the COLBSA $825,000 for capital improvements it has made to the property over the years.

The Cradle of Liberty Council serves more than 17,000 youth in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware Counties.

• Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service
• Graduation Coach Campaign
• PhillyRising
• Fun Safe Philly Summer
• Free Library of Philadelphia
• Philadelphia Youth Network
• Community College of Philadelphia
• Rising Sons
• Triple Threat
• City Year
• Philadelphia Education Fund, College Access Center
• Congreso de Latinos Unidos
• Temple University
• Independence Blue Cross
• Lenfest Center
• Higher Next
• Drexel University
• Philadelphia University
• Esperanza College
• La Salle University
• Cheney University
• Penn State University
• Ellis Trust
• Youth Build Charter School
• St. Joseph University
• Franklin Institute
• Academy of Natural Sciences
• WaWa
• Subway