WHEREAS, In May 2015, Philadelphians voted overwhelmingly in favor of abolishing the School Reform Commission and restoring local control of the Philadelphia School District; and
WHEREAS, In November 2017, the School Reform Commission voted to dissolve itself 16 years after its establishment; and
WHEREAS, In December 2017, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education approved the dissolution of the School Reform Commission thereby returning local control of the Philadelphia School District to the Philadelphia Board of Education, established under the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter; and
WHEREAS, In May 2018, Philadelphians voted overwhelmingly to amend the Home Rule Charter to allow City Council to approve Mayoral appointees to the Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, On July 1, 2018, the Philadelphia Board of Education formally regained governing control of the Philadelphia School District; and
WHEREAS, In accordance with Section 12-209(b) of the Home Rule Charter, the Board of Education, the Mayor, and City Council shall meet publicly at least twice during the school year in City Council chambers; and
WHEREAS, Section 12-209(b) of the Home Rule Charter further provides that the purpose for the meetings is to review and discuss the administration, management, operations and finances of the School District in order to develop and adopt plans to coordinate their activities for the improvement and benefit of public education in Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY PHILADELPHIA, Calls on the Council Committee of the Whole to convene public meetings and public hearings pursuant to the Educational Supplement of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter
to review the administration, management, operations, and finances of the School District and adopt plans to coordinate the activities of the Board of Education, the Mayor, and the City Council for the improvement and benefit of public education in Philadelphia.
End