I’m so proud of my husband, Juan Lopez, for all he put in to this restaurant over 8 years! We are looking to slow down, get off the grid, and live a simpler life… congrats, Juan! Stop by to taste his food before last day of service on July 7!
Best news that came home from kindergarten today— “There will be no formal written homework this year.” As an educator and parent, I’d love to see this every year.
We are committed to investing in and protecting our classrooms from budget cuts. The District will reallocate up to $8.8m from Central Office cuts and energy savings to fund the discontinuation of leveling in schools after the beginning of the school year.
Thank you to Juan, the best husband ever, for getting up at 5am to prepare breakfast for teachers & staff at
@ChildsGw
Juan has been the behind the scenes support for me and this work for years. We both believe there is nothing more important than public education.
#phled
I can’t stop thinking about ..do we expect that people in the future, long term, will continue to raise their hands to serve after today’s
@PHLschoolboard
hearing at City Council? A “thank-you-sir, may I have another” gig… as a volunteers.. and who again will lose? The kids.
How it started in 2018. And today it ends with my last ever action meeting on the
@PHLschoolboard
. It’s been a honor of a lifetime to serve. There is nothing more important than the young people of Philadelphia, and public education is the most important public good.
#phled
@DrHenryWashJr
Almost 38. Masters degree. 2 kids. Full time assistant prof. Co-own a restaurant w husband. Own my own consulting business. Am a member of my local school board—and my uncle recently wrote my mom a letter saying that I rest on the sofa too much. I feel ya. And— go sleep in!
Any administration that would stoop this low is showing their true sense of appreciation for their educations and staff...
“Upon notice of a strike, the College will notify each carrier to terminate coverage for covered full-time
faculty and employees...” from CCP ADMIN/BOARD
This is one thing that I just don’t understand. At times when people use the parks most, bathrooms aren’t open. There are kids that regularly go next to the buildings at many rec centers now bc there is no option.
Let’s talk REAL facts on charter schools and the
@PHLschoolboard
role in closures. Most people don’t talk fact, so here they are. And let’s be clear- there are some GREAT charters (like Keystone, expanded by 500 seats). talk fact.
This is the real story:
Joyce Wilkerson doesn't just deserve to be on the
@PHLschoolboard
...Philadelphia NEEDS her on the team. So, who is Joyce? Let's learn a little about her:
Joyce is selflessly committed to others. For almost double my lifetime, she has given her full self to serve others. 1/11
One of the biggest issues is that it is a volunteer gig. You can only attend so many things and be so available when you are running a $4.5B enterprise as a volunteer.
Just got my paperwork together to enroll my 5 year old, Santiago, in kindergarten at GW CHILDS elementary for this fall! He’s ready to thrive at 5 in our neighborhood school!
@PHLschools
@SDPHite
@PHLschoolboard
Watch our kindergartners show off their counting skills! Register your child for Kindergarten with our new, easy online portal. Go to and watch your child display their counting skills next school year
#PHLed
#ThriveatFive
I remember speaking on the steps of Harrisburg as a high school student…. Seeking a Fair Funding Formula pre-2000. Finally.. in 2021… it goes to trial… TODAY!
Meet you at the steps of the Capitol at noon!
#PHLed
In his interview,
@watlington_sr
said he wanted to learn how to play Purple Rain. So - they brought it to him on this historic day- check out these amazing students from CAPA and Boys Latin
#phled
@PHLschools
We spent the day in Harrisburg talking w legislators as part of the
@PSBA
advocacy day centered around some key topics that impact districts across the state. More than 200 school board members state wide attended and shared one voice of common needs
@PHLschoolboard
#PHLed
RECKLESS mask use compliance isn’t 100% w city employees. As a small business owner...someone who believes we need to do everything to get schools open... to respect our healthcare workers and protect community...I’m appalled at the # of police, fire, PWD maskless DAILY
@nelsonlflores
first gen student who is also very matter - of- fact…. And I had no idea til well into adulthood that wasn’t “the norm.” Good thing I’m totally ok w being an acquired taste 😬
A perk of being a restaurant owner is donating breakfast to
@ChildsGw
for Teacher Appreciation Week & supporting other schools throughout the year in donations & hosting paid interns! Thank you, teachers & staff, for the direct impact you have on our youth and city.
#phled
Board member Mallory Fix Lopez: we need an LGBTQ liaison for
#PHLed
DEI office. Official district forms going out with he/she pronouns only, etc - flying in the face of board policy 252. Supt Hite says the DEI office has to scrub all forms, etc.
Most of these schools self destructed. Oversight allows us to see the 'smoke before the flames' and suggest inventions. Oversight helps charters. BUT, it does NOT allow for the
@PHLschoolboard
to actually intervene. That's a charter board's job.
hey
@PhillyInquirer
....why is the education section below the entertainment section on website? and why does education not even get a tab at the top like real estate, entertainment, and sports?
Thank you
@PhiladelphiaGov
and
@ccdphila
for having bathrooms open on weekends. Not sure how long this has been going on (def new to me!) , but def makes center city more enjoyable and this lil lady loves walking through City Hall in her swimsuit
It’s been a wild ride owning a small business during Covid (not to mention kids, schools, etc). But I literally am paying an employee right now to stalk Go Puff/pharmacies to order rapid Covid tests…this is impossible.
@PAHealthDept
As a restaurant owner myself, ask me how insane it also is to actually do the ServeSafe /food safety certificate validation…. if I told you my most recent experiences, you wouldn’t believe me.
More than 800 restaurants citywide once operated "streeteries." But under the new regulatory system, the city has only granted licenses to 13 restaurants from a pool of 118 applicants.
No new public school has opened in North Philadelphia in 70 years. That changes in January, when 200 pre-K through fifth-grade students move into a brand-new, $44 million T.M. Peirce Elementary building at 23rd and Cambria.
We took a look inside 👇
Vaccine mandate passes for all
#phled
staff - effective date, consequences for noncompliance to be worked out still. Story (& details of one union’s issues with the mandate):
NEW: In a historic victory for students, a judge has declared Pennsylvania's school funding system unconstitutional.
We proved that the students who need the most have the least, because the state shortchanges low-wealth communities. It's time to change that.
PSSAs will NOT be used for special admit for upcoming applicants AND according to SDP chief of Staff there is NO deadline for opting out of PSSAs.
#phled
Please share this info to eliminate confusion
@PHLschoolboard
Thank you
@Mastbaum_FB
for showing me your Carpentry, Electrical, and Culinary CTE programs today! I was so impressed by your work and excitement for the field. And kudos to the amazing teachers and staff supporting you! What a special place!
@PHLschools
We had a great time at
@ChildsGw
open house and are even more excited to start kinder on Tue! And yes, that was Santiago’s clothing of choice today. 😬❤️
I grew up in a house with a suicidal father who was hospitalized multiple times when I was a child. I found suicide notes myself. He is gay, but in the 80/early 90s, and even now, society shamed him for who he is. Pride month is life-saving.
I’m so sorry to all students & staff of this district.
&hmm.. This must also mean they are eliminating gendered bathrooms? can’t talk about gov? Hang a poster of G Washington? further reminds me why our
@PHLschoolboard
policy 252 is so important and must be fully realized.
"Policy 321", which passed in a 6 to 3 vote, calls for banning teachers from talking about or displaying decor related to political, sociopolitical, sexual orientation, gender identity or religious beliefs.
What I’m NOT here to do is name call and degrade people in the process. That’s not how we get to the 1 Philadelphia
@PhillyMayor
is trying to realizing. But I am driven to educate people on this system and how to follow the facts… and that will be my focus forthcoming.
Such impressive work of students and staff on display at the
#CTE
fair at
@PHLschools
today! And check out Board President
@RLStreaterEsq
getting a shape up by Dobbins students!
#phled
Reallocate some of the police budget to support crisis response teams, homeless services, behavioral health services, and other social services.
@PhillyMayor
This would actually take a lot of burden off the police and serve the needs of the community simultaneously
Due to COVID-19, we're facing difficult budget choices this year. We have fewer resources than in the past, but we know Philadelphians have more needs than ever. Tell us what you want to see reflected in this year's
#PHLbudget
. Take the survey:
I was on a call a few weeks ago through
@PSBA
with school board leadership from across PA. The NUMBER 1 CHALLENGE districts expressed by far was broad band internet. This is not just a Philly prob. This is a STATE WIDE problem. We can't do this alone.
@comcast
@GovernorsOffice
This is how Santiago came home from school.
Me: wow! Look at you. What were you all doing?
Santi: I dunno. I think the teachers are happy there are only 20 days of school left.
I totally understand, teachers. I totally understand.
#PHLed
Thanks to the engineering students at Kensington HS for these amazing 3D printed Pokémon characters! My kids will love them! All items (way more than seen here!) are for sale… email Mr. Eric Cruz at ejcruz
@philasd
.org follow
@cruzsquad
on Instagram
#phled
@Avi_WA
I find this calendar extremely problematic as both an educator and parent. I find it even more concerning that this would be proposed during such an unknown and interrupted time of Covid.
@StoberofPhilly
@PhillyMayor
@PhillyPolice
Insane. And like- maybe if our public restrooms were open there would be a little less public urination. You gotta go somewhere- like the many kids at parks and recs sites daily w no bathroom access (and it’s not a “covid safety” thing anymore)
This will continue to be a priority of mine. Thanks to those who have helped finally move Policy 252 forward. heard some great feedback this week from some school leaders that this has pushed them to really think about how they support LGBTQ+ students at large, not stopping here
Starting in the 2021-2022 school year, which begins August 31, every building in the Philadelphia School District will have at least one single-stall gender-neutral bathroom.
There are over 200 registered speakers tomorrow. The large majority will be BEFORE the vote bc they are on this month’s items. This is an important meeting and I’d encourage every to listen as long as possible so relevant info/testimony isn’t missed.
Join the July 23rd Action Meeting! The public may submit written comments by email (schoolboard
@philasd
.org) or by voicemail, which will be transcribed, (215-400-5959) until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22. All such comments will be included in the record of the meeting.
Do you have funding that will cover: equipment, installation, AND long term maintenance? Harrisburg is sitting on billions of reserve dollars…. the school board is not the correct audience for this. Let’s get to the root cause…. And stop over funding cyber charters
As a parent of kids in Philly public schools, I know students and staff can’t afford to wait for clean air in school buildings. Proud to stand with
@PhillyDSA
, colleagues and community groups to urge
@PHLschoolboard
&
@PHLschools
to place a CDC-approved filter in every classroom!
The Philadelphia School District will soon allow students to select a nonbinary gender option in its internal systems in what officials say is an important step to support children’s “physical, mental and emotional well-being.”
@jenniferkates
@PHLschoolboard
As you mention, most of these closures were NOT by SRC/BOE; they self destructed. There is no “self destruction intervention clause” of charter law that grants authority to the authorizer. BOE can’t "save the day.” It literally doesn’t exist. That's the charter boards job
I can’t stop smiling while looking at these amazing little kindergartners from Childs Elementary … and I get to see their faces for the first time ever this year 😍
#Phled
@PHLschools
Were you born before 1978? Yes? Then you may know approx 90% of Phila district schools were built before 1978, which means our schools and aging and in dire need of repair
#PHLed
#WeWorkforFunding
@PASchoolsWork
For over a year I watched my dear friend Eileen work miracles to get this playground built w her team and community at
@KirkbridePHL
. Congrats to all involved- this will have bigger impacts that you can ever imagine or know.
#schoolplaygrounds
#playtolearn
#PHLed
Looks like they’re going to infinity and beyond at
@ChildsGw
today! Rex (I mean, Santiago) was so excited to see Buzz (aka Principal Laurie!) .
@ELEVATEHIGHR
#phled
@GaleMorrisonEd
@MrsMcCro
@LouFantini
@mr_saltz
@mindyisser
you are completing leaving out the fact that we pay out to charter schools in that budget. There are 86 charter in Philly that get a percentage of our operating budget. plus a whole bunch of other stuff.
Not sure how I already have a 2nd grader! Time does fly! Excited to start what’s sure to be another wonderful year at
@ChildsGw
! Santiago has been counting down this day for a few weeks now!
#phled
A GSA is life support from people like Bill McSwain. How are we still at a place in history where people ask “what made you gay?” Anyone who thinks a GSA is indoctrination is just ….ignorant.
Because this is an INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE , not a school board issue. Old buildings need to be funded differently. Thinking we are going to do this without a specific line item for aging buildings is crazy. A building built in 1910 needs dif funding formulas than one from 2010
@jongeeting
I would encourage public transportation as remedy 1 always. But we cannot overlook that with a workforce this big… and aging workforce at that… there are all different needs. It seems a bit ableist to assume everyone can easily ride a bike or manage the steep steps of SEPTA
Streater: with no vote on Wilkerson, what remains is “unfinished business;” neither he nor she wished to comment on the opposition’s motivations. Streater voiced support for the mayor’s
#phled
vision & slate, and, regarding Wilkerson, pledged to “follow the mayor’s lead”
Thank you
@MaddieLuebbert
for all your work on this; it’s helped make big changes. You have helped elevate the importance of it. I will continue to stand with you and do what I can to help continue this work.
via
@PhillyInquirer
A big shout out to Waring Elementary third graders who celebrated reading 20 books in 20 weeks, a School District initiative to challenge third-graders to read “20 in 20”!
We’re back in
@PHLCouncil
today urging members of council to move forward with the nominations of Reginald Streater & Joyce Wilkerson to
@PHLschoolboard
.
#phled
Let’s trust
@PhillyMayor
’s decision of her full slate and give her and them the support needed to do this difficult work on behalf of ALL kids in ALL public schools across the city.
Big
#PHLed
day - Council meeting shortly, school board meeting later this afternoon. Joyce Wilkerson's school board confirmation is still up in the air, but there's a push from a diverse coalition to get her confirmed. Story, w/
@anna_orso
:
We- as a society- have absolutely failed our young people at large in this city. We have to demand decision making that put kids first.
So many you lives lost.
This is the saddest video but these kids all deserved to be remembered, so sharing.
#phled
100%! restrooms on ground floor of City Hall have been regularly closed... so have parks and recs.. yet you’ll never see bathroom on boathouse row closed during peak hours, which I find... 🧐
Public spaces don't work without restrooms accessible to everyone. We're calling for the City to restore and expand public restrooms as a
#phillybudgetpriority
.
Will you sign on, too?
👉
@ani_cdotes
Said as a patient in FM for almost 20 years, the answer to me is that FM is THE most important field. My FM doc delivered my babies, is the doc of my babies, has seen me through multiple health issues, multiple surgeries, & is one of the most important people in my life.
Perk # 1,000 to Santiago going to our neighborhood school? I can leave my house at 3:39 for dismissal and still be on time for a 3:39 dismissal.
@ChildsGw
Thank you,
@RepHarris
! Genuinely appreciated that we could have real talk about education together! Was an honor to serve. Look forward to slowing down a bit for now, but my life’s work is in public education, so I look forward to the next opportunity to serve!
Thank you to my constituent Mallory Fix-Lopez for her service. Many times we would talk about the work of the Board and our collective work together. I enjoyed our debates on education and can attest to her commitment to the work. Thank you
@FixMallory
!
I see a lot of JOY here….and FUN! Love seeing kids at GW Childs Elementary
@PHLschools
, including my 2nd grader (throwing the ball!) sharing and enjoying their time together at Fun Fest 2024! They’re all excited to see which teachers they can take down in the dunk tank!
#phled
It’s so different watching it from this view. Will take a little while to adjust. But, I’m excited for where the
@PHLschoolboard
&
@PHLschools
are headed, and can’t wait to support and uplift public Ed in all sectors in a new way. Thank you, Mayor Kenney, for the chance to serve.
💯. And he never silences us. He tries to take the burden from us as much as possible bc he knows the toll it takes, and he is so selflessly committed to keeping us sane. I’ve never met a more supportive leader w a resolute moral compass as
@RLStreaterEsq
I had the pleasure of working with Reggie Streater. One of the most thoughtful, principled, smart and ethical people I have had the pleasure of knowing. I know
#PHLed
is in good hands if he is there. Looks like his colleagues know that too.
#leaderslead
If you are testifying at tonight's
@PHLschoolboard
meeting, PLEASE make sure you are alert and timely so you don't miss your name being called; following along with the Zoom stream (not the TV) will eliminate the time lag and allow you to hear your name in real time
Congratulations to
@RLStreaterEsq
,
@iRunDare2Hope
, ChauWing Lam, & Joyce Wilkerson on reappointment to the
@PHLschoolboard
! SO DESERVED!
And welcome to the 5 new members! Make kids a non-negotiable north star and Philly will soar! Thank you for your willingness to serve!