We're back together. After the panelists finished their presentations, the audience split up into small groups to discuss Philadelphia schools. Now we're at the last part of the evening. The audience has submitted questions in writing to the next set of guests, School Reform Commission Chairman Jim Nevels and SRC member Sandra Dungee Glenn.
Question: What is the district doing to counter violence in schools?
Nevels: The SRC worked with district CEO Paul Vallas to draft a tough new code. Large, comprehensive high schools, where much of the violence occurs, are being split into smaller schools. He is working with Vallas to make sure the student conduct and disciplinary codes are enforced fully and consistently.
Glenn: She seconds what Jim said, but adds that kids need stability, not uncertainty. Schools need to have a stable climate -- and that takes action from school administrators, teachers and central office staff.
Question: How do you react to the statistics on teacher retention and assignment?
Nevels: He is worried about recruiting more highly qualified teachers. But he is also concerned about the high rate of teacher turnover. Retention is essential. The district has worked with the teachers' union to try to get teachers assigned to schools based on need rather than on preferences of teachers according to seniority. The district got that right in the last contract. The district has not yet seen the full fruition of that agreement, he says.
Glenn: She is talking about site selection and how important it is to have strategic recruitment so incoming teachers know what to expect, and teacher support to help them once they are in the classroom. Also, the district is looking at how principals can support teachers. New and improved training in principal academies is helping to do just that. These are all critical components of teacher retention and good education.
Nevels: At the fifth year, Nevels adds, the SRC is looking at areas that have received little or no attention so far.
Question: Thoughts on the district's deficit, holding people accountable for it, how to pay for priorities, and how to get more money from Harrisburg?
Nevels: The SRC is ultimately responsible for the deficit. Remember the context. In 2001 the district had a dire financial and academic situation. Now, children are learning at a rate and pace people thought wasn't possible. "Reform costs money," he says to the very attentive audience. He adds that the SRC has started a financial accountability unit. This fifth year will see a review of programs and what money is needed to maintain the productive reforms and work on other challenges. The SRC chief is asking the audience, or maybe the heavens, if anyone knows how to improve high school academic performance.
Glenn: SRC members are increasingly understanding what has worked. Now, they have to figure out how to get resources to keep reforms going. The district also needs to put more effort and resources into reducing class sizes -- though again, tough choices will have to be made. On high schools, she answers an earlier comment from a panelist about Philadelphia's definition of a small high school. "Seven hundred is better than 1,700" students in a high school, she said.
Question: How can district officials manage the tension between starting charter schools and improving traditional, neighborhood schools?
Nevels: Paul Vallas is looking at places where there are no choices or where a charter could eliminate overcorwding in a nearby school. Nevels would love to see an even greater embrace of charters. "I believe that charters ... are part of a larger educational structure and should be treated that way."
Glenn: The SRC's challenge is to figure out what a quality public school system looks like and that includes how many schools are charters, how many are different models and what works among them all. She isn't so sold on privately managed schools.
Question: Some mayoral candidates say it is time to end the takeover. If the winner sits down with the SRC and says he wants to have the district back under the city's full control, what would you answer?
Nevels: First and foremost, the SRC is about governance that promotes a strong education for children. The involvement of the state has brought additional resources. Whether it's local control or SRC, it's important that those added resources don't disappear. The governance structure is less important than giving Philly students what they deserve -- more funding to continue reforms.
Glenn: Governance isn't the key. The question is how do we create the buy-in for Harrisburg so the district can get adequate resources for educating children.
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