Title
Authorizing the Law and Government Committee of the Council to conduct a full and comprehensive investigation into the performance of the School Reform Commission to determine whether the funds appropriated to the School District by City Council and expended by the SRC are being utilized in an effective and efficient manner, with full respect for the constitutional rights of parents, students and their supporters.
Body
WHEREAS, On December 21, 2001, the Secretary of Education found the Philadelphia School District to be in distress, thereby suspending the powers of the Board of Education, and placing a "School Reform Commission" (hereinafter "SRC") in charge of the District; and
WHEREAS, At approximately the same time, Governor Schweiker appointed James Nevels Chair of the SRC; and
WHEREAS, On January 14, 2002, the Governor and Mayor appointed the remaining members of the SRC; and
WHEREAS, On April 17, 2002, the SRC identified seventy schools that would be subject to a revised management structure, either as privatized, independent, reconstituted, or charter schools; and
WHEREAS, Forty-two of these schools are to be managed by seven different private entities, all of which have either little or no experience managing urban schools, or have achievement records that are questionable, at best; and
WHEREAS, The governance structures to be utilized in the four categories of schools selected has yet to be determined; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the private managers, and other governing structures yet to be identified, partnership community groups to be selected for each school with additional duties that are not yet defined; and
WHEREAS, The SRC has determined that the private managers will be subjected to a variety of guidelines for achievement, and accountability measures; and
WHEREAS, The SRC is currently in the process of identifying 325 central office workers to fire, and has yet to hire a Chief Executive Officer; and
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