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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMFebruary 12, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
*** Media Advisory *** Media Advisory *** Media Advisory ***
PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS ISSUE SURVEY ON EDUCATION ISSUES TO MAYORAL HOPEFULS AND DEMAND THAT CANDIDATES PUT EDUCATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS MAYORAL RACE.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2007
CONTACT
Ali Kronley, ACORN, 267-408-5582
Andi Perez, YUC, 215-416-3862
WHAT: A press conference to demand that education be a defining issue in this mayoral race; to issue a survey on education issues for mayoral hopefuls; and to announce an upcoming mayoral candidates’ forum on public education.
TIME AND LOCATION: February 15th, 2007 Time 4:15 PM
Place: United Way building, 7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
PURPOSE: Philadelphia public school parents, students, community members and stakeholders from the Philadelphia Cross City Campaign for School Reform are standing together to demand that education be a defining issue in this mayoral race.
"It’s time to put to rest the myth that the mayor is not a key player in city schools,” explained Ken Jones, a member of ACORN, a community organization. “Along with the CEO of the School District, the mayor has the most power and influence of anyone in determining the fate of our schoolchildren. The mayor appoints two members of the School Reform Commission, which generally reaches decisions by consensus. The mayor controls hundreds of millions of dollars in city funding for schools and plays a key role in securing other funding. And on critical issues like school safety, dropouts, social services, and attracting skilled staff, city government needs to be working hand-in-hand with the District to make any real progress."
At the press conference, members of the Cross City coalition will outline the key issues of a survey on education for the mayoral hopefuls. All candidates will be asked to complete the survey, and to participate in a city-wide mayoral candidates' forum on issues of public education to be held April 12th. in collaboration with the Inquirer's Editorial Board.
“Education has not been an important enough issue for far too long. We are putting this forum together to hold candidates to task and to find out where they stand on the issues we feel are most important. We want to give parents and students a chance to see what the mayoral candidates feel about education issues,” said Marcella Gibbs, Kensington High School student and member of the student organization Youth United for Change.
The press conference and mayoral forum are sponsored by member organizations of the Philadelphia Cross City Campaign for School Reform, an alliance of local education groups that are committed to improving Philadelphia public schools through organizing parents, students, and other stakeholders for change. Member organizations include: ACORN, Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project, Education Law Center, Good Schools Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Citizens for Children & Youth, Philadelphia Education Fund, Philadelphia Student Union, and Youth United for Change.
Philadelphia Cross City Campaign for School Reform Member Organizations:
ACORN
Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project
Education Law Center
Good Schools Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Citizens for Children & Youth
Philadelphia Education Fund
Philadelphia Student Union
Youth United for Change