The Echo

With two days until funding judgment day in the School District of Philadelphia, officials are asking a state-controlled board to remove a rule that forces them to rehire staff based on seniority. This request comes as the district awaits $50 million in additional cash to open school on-time.  http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/School-Budget-Crisis-District-Asking-to-Suspend-Teacher-Senority-Rule-219611041.html

Super Bill Hite is asking the School Reform Commission, the joint Gov- and Mayor- appointed governing body for the school district to remove the seniority rule, a provision mandated in the unions collective bargaining agreement.  Hite cites a desire to want to restore the employment of previously terminated employees to the school from which they worked, should the district win $50 million at the slots between now and Friday (tongue in cheek, it's what his ultimatum amounts to - a convincingly random coin flip request in a state that legislated the destruction of the fourth largest urban district in the nation, guised as "education reform" before education reformer even knew the definition.)

And his effort would seem genuine with the exception that his administration is also currently negotiating with the union their next contract.  The move has certainly excited the union leadership concerned that the district is NOT negotiating in GOOD FAITH. Its a fantastic twist on the Eli Broadian mission of decimating public education by weakening unions while eliminating public control of education for privatization.  Hite is a Broad graduate and comes to Philly well-schooled in union busting. So, it shouldn't come as surprise that he'd warp a financial meltdown into a capitalist opportunity schemed by Wallstreet's most elite. 


Meanwhile...

Philadelphia City Council has announced a plan to raise the money for the district through the purchase and resale of unused real estate. Officials have promised to provide the district with a guarantee of the cash by Friday, but with two days to go, nothing is set in stone.

State lawmakers have also admonished Governor Tom Corbett for not yet providing $45 million in promised aid to Philadelphia schools.

The Corbett administration has said it will not provide the money without the teacher's union agreeing to more than $130 million in contract concessions. A cutback union officials say they can't make.