School rallies expected this morning to protest loss of teachers

TWO PHILADELPHIA schools, facing the loss of teachers and the possibility of combined grades in one classroom, are expected to protest the district's decision at separate rallies this morning.

The loss of two teachers at Cook-Wissahickon School in Wissahickon and three teachers at Sharswood School in South Philadelphia is due to the "leveling process," which is expected to be complete by Monday. It will likely result in classrooms packed to the limit of 33 students per teacher for second through 12th grades.

During "leveling," the district determines actual enrollment numbers at its schools and assesses whether more or fewer educators, in accordance with student-teacher ratios, are needed in each building.

Cook-Wissahickon parent Rebecca Poyourow said this year's process "destabilizes" classrooms across the city.

"It's not a factor. Teachers have established classrooms and routines and you're putting that all into chaos," Poyourow said.

Sharswood teacher Alice Steinitz said one of her classes will jump from about 20 students to 31. "The difference is significant," said Steinitz. "Everyone thinks it's about [teacher] pay, but for the students this is terrible."

Arlene Kempin, vice president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), said she's been through the annual process since 1983 and has never seen one as complex as this year's rollout. District officials, she added, violate about four union rules.

In years past, the district, according to the PFT contract rules, had until the 21st day of class to complete the process. That date should have been Oct. 15, but the district pushed it back to Monday, or the 29th school day.

"The PFT believes it's too far into the school year and grading period," Kempin said. Teachers who are moved during the process are expected to grade students they have taught for two weeks.

In years past, for instance, a teacher who was forced to transfer from a school could select his or her next school at district headquarters and complete leveling "in less than an hour," Kempin said. Now, the teacher must contact the principals at schools with vacancies, then send a resume and wait until the principal submits his three choices and the human-resources office matches teachers with schools.

District spokesman Fernando Gallard said the administration is doing its best under the difficult financial circumstances.

"We don't have resources or money like before" and that means "a lot more teachers are being moved around," Gallard said. When the district had more funds, it could afford to have smaller class sizes, said Gallard, who added that officials are working to reduce combined classes.

Cook-Wissahickon on Salaignac Street near Righter, will lose two fifth-grade teachers, a move expected to result in combined grades, Poyourow said. The rally begins at 8:15 a.m. and will include an appearance by PFT president Jerry Jordan.

Sharswood School, on 2nd Street near Wolf, will lose a gym teacher, one second-grade teacher and one fifth-grade teacher. The rally begins at 7:45 a.m.

Source: Philly.com