Philadelphia School Plans Rally & March To City Hall Seeking Support For Public School Funding

April 26, 2013 - PRLog -- Meredith Elementary School, located at 5th & Fitzwater Streets, is protesting the new budget handed down by the School District of Philadelphia. This coming Monday, April 29, 2013, at 8am, teachers, staff, students, and parents will stage a "picket" in front of the school. Then at 8:30am, Principal Cindy Farlino and parents will march to City Hall where the Superintendent, Dr. William Hite, will present the bleak budget news to members of City Council. Meredith Elementary School and parent leaders are rallying support from other schools in the district encouraging them to join in Monday's march to City Hall. The media is invited and encouraged to attend.

Schools across Philadelphia received grim budget news this week that makes it impossible to open schools in September. Tthe new budget only affords schools to pay for a principal and teachers. There is no money for support staff, aides, or special programs. This means there will be no secretary, no counselor, no nurse, no sports, no music, no art, no books, no paper, etc. Parents at Meredith say we are in an emergency situation and need to sound the alarm, and take action. At a parents meeting Thursday morning, the Meredith School Council and Meredith Home & School brainstormed ideas and came up with Monday's public action. They also designed posters with "House For Sale By Owner" sign on one side, and  the words "Tripling Our Taxes, Crippling Our Schools" on the other. Many parents said the news about the budget makes them want to move out of the city of Philadelphia into the suburbs.

While the budget news in Philadelphia is bad, education cuts are being felt across the entire state of Pennsylvania. Parents are also encouraged to join an existing state-wide campaign for funding by signing this online petition:  http://signon.org/sign/pa-students-are-waiting?source=c.tw&r_by=2344812. Parents are also being encouraged to speak with their local state legislators. To find who that is go here:http://www.house.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#addres (http://www.house.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourle...)s

Advocacy groups say a rally on the Pennsylvania State Capitol is likely going to be on the calendar in the coming weeks. More details on a state action will be coming soon.

If parents cannot attend Monday's Public Action "Tripling Our Taxes, Crippling Our Schools," parents are encouraged to contact their Philadelphia City Council person, Council President Darrell Clarke, and all Council Members at Large (http://philadelphiacitycouncil.net/council-members/) The message is clear: The current budget - no secretaries, no counselors, no librarians, no aides - is not acceptable, and we cannot operate a school with the current budget. Please come up with a plan to help fund our schools and support the $60-million dollars Dr. Hite is requesting. Meredith parents say it is urgent that we mobilize and create a plan of action to raise awareness among parent body, community, and other schools to voice the message that proposed budgets are not adequate to open schools in September.

For more information about Monday's Public Action at Meredith Elementary School contact the school at (215) 351-7360 or email the Meredith Home & School at: meredithhomeandschool@gmail.com. Media inquiries can be directed to Leslie@TylerMadePR.com or call (609) 247-2632.