Call it “Miracle II” in Upper Darby.
First it was Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast.
Now it’s the special classes in Upper Darby schools.
Who says you can’t fight city hall?
We learned on Saturday that state funding has been allocated that will allow Upper Darby officials to restore the special classes that had been on the chopping block - arts and music in the elementary schools, as well as tech and language for middle schoolers. Phys Ed classes also will return. Not as lucky is library, which still appears as if it’s going to get slashed.
You can read all the details here.
It was back in early April that district officials, facing the prospect of a $4 million budget shortfall, decided to swing the ax. They cut 57 teaching positions, raised taxes, and most important eliminated the longtime tradition of the so-called “special” classes dedicated to art and music, among other things.
It was not well-received. Parents went ballistic. Then they mobilized. They set up a Facebook page and website called SaveUDArts.
They packed school board meetings. They lobbied their legislators.
Their voices were heard. And they got results.
You hear all the time that you can’t fight city hall. But this is the second time in little more than a few months that citizens have done exactly that.
First it was the massive fundraising effort pulled off by the Bonner-Prendie boosters.
With the public schools, it was turning up the heat on public officials.
One man in particular felt the residents’ pain and worked behind the scenes to restore the money to Upper Darby.
That would be state state Rep. Nick Micozzie, R-163. The longtime Upper Darby rep is no stranger to the education funding wars. He’s been battling for years against a system that creates an unfair, unlevel playing field in which the districts where his constituents live, in Upper Darby and William Penn, have the deck stacked against them.
We’ll get more details of the deal that allowed the special classes to be returned Tuesday night when the school board is scheduled to take its final budget vote.
That vote will now likely will overturn the much-hated district realignment plant.
It’s another miracle.
They seem to be contagious in Upper Darby.
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