City of Philadelphia - File #: 010751

• File #: 010751
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 12/20/2001
• In control: Committee on Law and Government
• Final action: 12/20/2001
• Title: Authorizing the City Council, under the direction and supervision of Committee on Law and Government, to hire outside counsel to bring a lawsuit on its behalf against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Governor of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Education, the members of any Board or Commission appointed pursuant to Act 46, Edison Schools, Inc., and all other appropriate parties, to reverse and nullify any action of the Commonwealth to appoint a so-called "School Reform Commission" to take over the School District of Philadelphia or to contract with Edison, or any other educational management company for its services, until and unless such action is approved by the Council and the voters of Philadelphia pursuant to the provisions of law.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Cohen, Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Tasco, Council President Verna, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Reynolds Brown

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/20/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED & REFERRED
12/20/2001	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Authorizing the City Council, under the direction and supervision of Committee on Law and Government, to hire outside counsel to bring a lawsuit on its behalf against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Governor of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Education, the members of any Board or Commission appointed pursuant to Act 46, Edison Schools, Inc., and all other appropriate parties, to reverse and nullify any action of the Commonwealth to appoint a so-called "School Reform Commission" to take over the School District of Philadelphia or to contract with Edison, or any other educational management company for its services, until and unless such action is approved by the Council and the voters of Philadelphia pursuant to the provisions of law.
Body
WHEREAS, Governor Schweiker has announced his intention to appoint a so-called "School Reform Commission" over the Philadelphia School District and contract with Edison Schools, Inc., a private for-profit company to provide a variety of services; and

WHEREAS, Upon execution of this contract, Edison will be in a position to substantially direct, influence and/or control the operation of the District, and be paid over $100 million for doing so; and

WHEREAS, This plan will totally strip away the duties and powers of the duly appointed Board of Education, sharply reduce, if not eliminate, the influence and control over School District matters that parents and voters now enjoy, and abrogate many, if not all, the provisions of the School District Supplement to the Home Rule Charter; and

WHEREAS, Under the provisions of the School District Home Rule Enabling Act, no such changes may be made without approval of the City Council and of the voters of Philadelphia, by referendum; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth, is making this radical move based upon a tainted study for which it paid Edison Schools, Inc., $2.7 million to produce; and

WHEREAS, According to a survey of state test scores commissioned by U.S. R...