State Rep. Thomas calls for local control of schools

With representatives of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers standing by his side, State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas on Thursday decried the School Reform Commission's canceling of the teachers union contract.

"Earlier this week, the School Reform Commission acted in a unilateral manner that poisoned what very well may be a worthy issue," the Philadelphia Democrat said at his Girard Avenue office.

He drew cheers from a group of about 30 people there when he said, "I support the PFT and their efforts to say to no to the abrogation of their collective-bargaining agreement."

Thomas said he has four demands for the Philadelphia schools, starting with a return to local control of the district. He called on Mayor Nutter to work for the end of the SRC's fiscal oversight.

"It is time we had a school board that is reflective of the diversity of the people," he said, "and has the ability to act with financial integrity."

Thomas also demanded an accounting of all funding for the School District. He called for a "fair funding formula" for schools across the state. And he advocated for a moratorium on applications for charter schools in the city.

State Rep. Steve McCarter, whose district covers Montgomery County and part of Philadelphia, also spoke in support of the Philadelphia teachers.

"We have seen four hard years of education . . . but the problem is not on the backs of the people who work in the Philadelphia school system," McCarter said. "They are the ones who have been holding the school system together through this tragedy that has happened through the state takeover in Philadelphia."

He said lawmakers and citizens across the state needed to take responsibility, "but you don't do that by the way of abrogating contracts and taking away the benefits that people have had and have given up salary to get those benefits."

Yvette Jones, a teacher and spokeswoman for the teachers union, assailed the SRC, contending that the canceling of the collective-bargaining agreement is "a blatant contract violation the PFT will fight."

Source: Philly.com