"Philadelphia Schools Unveil Catastrophic Budget" (Philly Inquirer)- 3,000 more layoffs

[JPZenger]

http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130419__Catastrophic__budget_laid_out_by_Philly_schools.html

"If the "catastrophic" budget picture Superintendent Hite comes to pass, Philadelphia schools would be virtually unrecognizable come September. There could be no money for counselors or librarians. There might be no sports or extracurricular activities. No dedicated funds for secretaries, aides, or summer school would be provided. And that would follow the steep cuts made over the last two years.

There also could be 3,000 layoffs, including some teachers. This doomsday scenario comes as a result of a deficit of more than $300 million in the district's $2.7 billion 2013-14 budget. Officials have asked for $120 million in additional funding from the state and $60 million from the city, as well as $133 million in concessions from labor unions. But none of that money is guaranteed.

But $220 million in additional school-based cuts is a very real possibility. Union officials have said they would not bow to demands for big concessions, and while Mayor Nutter has signaled his support for the district's request, early signs from the state are not promising and City Council seems skeptical."
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Meanwhile, Republican state house member Daryl Metcalfe has joined with several other Republican legislators to urge that no additional state money be provided to public schools because they are just a "black hole."

[phantom power]

1. it's like our whole country is self destructing