Turns out the Chester Upland School District is not the only one teetering on the edge of the financial abyss.
In Philadelphia, the School Reform Commission, the folks who run the city schools, admitted yesterday they were drowning in red ink, and laid out a fairly painful way out.
Can you say job cuts? They need to come up with $61 million by June.
Maybe this is why Gov. Tom Corbett and his Education secretary, Edward Tomalis, are taking such a hard line on the Chester Upland crisis. CU offficials went to court to get the state to release an advance on subsidies. A judge ordered the state to fork over $3.2 million. But Chester Upland wanted $20 million to get through the rest of the school year.
The $3.2 million is only expected to last a couple of pay periods. Both sides are expected back in court on Feb. 23,
In Philadelphia, they are considering some fairly draconian cuts, including all spring sports. Also on the chopping block are instrumental music and gifted programs.
Then there's the job cuts. Isn't there always? A big chunk of district employees - 2,700 - have received layoff warnings. Five hundred non-union workers will not be getting their raises. Those making more than $75,000 will be looking at pay cuts.
That's education in Pa., folks.
In the meantime, down in Chester Upland, here is what they are looking at the next couple of weeks.
You heard it here first: They'll be back in court on Feb. 23, once again looking at the possibility of closing the doors when the money runs out.
In Philadelphia, the School Reform Commission, the folks who run the city schools, admitted yesterday they were drowning in red ink, and laid out a fairly painful way out.
Can you say job cuts? They need to come up with $61 million by June.
Maybe this is why Gov. Tom Corbett and his Education secretary, Edward Tomalis, are taking such a hard line on the Chester Upland crisis. CU offficials went to court to get the state to release an advance on subsidies. A judge ordered the state to fork over $3.2 million. But Chester Upland wanted $20 million to get through the rest of the school year.
The $3.2 million is only expected to last a couple of pay periods. Both sides are expected back in court on Feb. 23,
In Philadelphia, they are considering some fairly draconian cuts, including all spring sports. Also on the chopping block are instrumental music and gifted programs.
Then there's the job cuts. Isn't there always? A big chunk of district employees - 2,700 - have received layoff warnings. Five hundred non-union workers will not be getting their raises. Those making more than $75,000 will be looking at pay cuts.
That's education in Pa., folks.
In the meantime, down in Chester Upland, here is what they are looking at the next couple of weeks.
You heard it here first: They'll be back in court on Feb. 23, once again looking at the possibility of closing the doors when the money runs out.
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