The School District of Philadelphia is most obviously in shambles right now. It's heartbreaking that a budget crisis created by adults most adversely affects our kids.
If you haven't been following Philadelphia, here's a few articles:
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130506_Phila__school_staff_paint_a_doomsday_budget_picture.html
http://thenotebook.org/blog/135946/superintendent-and-src-chairs-testimonies-budget-hearings
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/germantown-more-news/item/54209-germantown-avenue-businesses-worry-about-impact-of-ghs-closure?Itemid=18
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/54397-philly-pols-empty-rhetoric-leaves-citys-kids-behind
Here's the Readers Digest version:
The School District is in debt - a $300 million deficit. The School District has asked the state for $120 million and Philadelphia City Council for $60 million. Every one says there is no money - none - to bail out the district for the nth year in a row.
The teacher's union has been told that they could see salary cuts upwards of 25%, in addition to making other concessions. There's been no agreement yet, but it won't be pretty.
About 30 schools were just voted to be shut down next school year. I would bet money that more will be closed in the following years.
They have announced that all "non-essential" staff will be cut next year: nurses, counselors, librarians, assistant principals, secretaries.
Sports, music, and after school programs: gone.
This is all of course if no money is found. But even if some money is found, I'm sure we'll still see most of these things come about anyway.
The point? Other than heartbreak? The School District, the schools, and everyone who attends or works in a school, are in for a rough time.
In Library Build news, I've created a guide for others to help save their own libraries based on the work we did at Rowen. Check it out, let me know thoughts. I can easily make changes and edits as people need more information:
http://www.amazon.com/Save-Your-Library-Callie-Hammond/dp/1482705427/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367851716&sr=8-1&keywords=save+your+library+callie+hammond
