March Newsflash
At the SRC . . .
In March, the School Reform Commission approved the following resolutions:
-Adoption of a “Lump Sum Budget” with anticipated revenues and expenses for 2006-07, as required by the city’s Charter.
The $2.04 billion budget reflects an increase in expenditures of $67 million (or 3 percent) over the current year. District officials said the 2006-07 budget has to address increased costs for employee benefits, debt service, and charter schools that together far exceed the anticipated increases in revenues.
-Authorization to sell the former Durham School, located at 16th and Lombard Streets, for $6 million.
The Durham School in Center City was closed in 2003 due to low enrollment and high repair costs and was put up for sale last year.
-Recognition of the continuing work of the Philadelphia Home and School Council and Home and School Associations.
The SRC resolution urges District staff to support the work of these parent organizations. It goes on to recognize “the unique role of PHSC in working with parents and caregivers and in educating District staff on the benefits of parent participation, and recognizes the unique role of PHSC in serving as the parent voice on official District committees and commenting on plans and policies.”
-Ratification of a $121,470 contract with the College Board to offer training to teachers of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and AP coordinators, and to prepare students for the May 2006 AP exams.
The District has steadily expanded its college-level AP course offerings and increased student participation, but test performance has lagged. End-of-course AP tests are graded on a scale of 1-5, with ‘3’ generally considered to be a “passing” grade. Of the 2541 AP tests taken by Philadelphia students last May, 42 percent received the lowest possible grade of ‘1’, while only 37 percent of students scored ‘3’ or higher.
-Acceptance of a $1 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the teaching of American history.
The grant supports professional development for teachers on issues in American history up to 1920, and it includes funds for partnerships with universities and museums to conduct professional development activities.