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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMApril 23, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ted Mucellin
215-843-0917
610-730-8622 (Cell)
Ted@McClureforCouncil.com
McClure Releases Education Plan: The “BRIDGE” Program to Improve Our Schools
PHILADELPHIA: Today, Matt McClure, a candidate for the City Council from the 4th Councilmanic District, released his plan to improve the education system in the City of Philadelphia and for the schools in the 4th Councilmanic District. McClure released this new proposal as his candidacy continues to pick up momentum heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
“If we are going to be a place where parents not only can, but want to raise their children, we need to continue to improve our schools,” said McClure today. “Parents need to know that their child – that every child -- will receive a quality education in a safe school.”
“The quality of our schools doesn’t just impact families, but it also affects our city’s ability to keep our youth from turning to crime and provide a well trained work force that attracts new business to our city,” continued McClure. “We need to do something about our schools now.”
The McClure “BRIDGE” education plan, available on his campaign website www.McClureforCouncil.com, outlines the following programs and recommendations that McClure plans on advocating for in Council. The plan focuses on the goals of B R I D G E.
1. Building
Infrastructure
Will created commission dedicated to fund school construction and renovation
Revenues from 10-year tax abatement expiration will be used to fund school reconstruction.Relationships
In first 100 days, Matt will visit all schools to identify needs and seek funding
Will create Educational Liaison
Partnerships between schools and communities
2. Reform
Matt will commission independent outside audit
Demand that SRC decrease duplicate spending and implement audit recommendations
Matt will overhaul contracting system to open all school contract to competitive bidding and redirect some contract in-house
3. Intellectual Capital
Matt will develop scholarship programs to keep recently graduated teachers in the city and incentives to make them stay
Matt will overhaul teacher pay to keep our best and brightest
4. Develop
Matt will fight to fund innovative measures like the Talent Development Model
Matt will work to improve current college tuition program and extend scholarships programs beyond the first year in college
5. Grade
Matt will continually monitor progress after the internal audit with help of the Educational Liaison
6. Early Education and Extra-Curricular
Matt wants to bring the Bright Futures program to the entire city
Matt will initiate legislation to provide after school programs for all children
Matt will fight to increase funding for rec centers and to build new ones
Matt will work to build non-traditional after school programs like organized volunteer activities and nature studies in Fairmount Park
Matt will work to expand the role that private money can play in developing well funded, staffed and equipped after school programs
McClure, a 4th generation Philadelphian, began his professional career working for the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC before returning to Philadelphia to work for then-Mayor Ed Rendell. He is currently an attorney at Ballard Spahr. He and his wife Kelly and their two children live in East Falls.
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