To: School Reform Commission
440 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
May 24, 2012
Dear members of the School Reform Commission,
I was fortunate enough yesterday to attend an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee’s ACCESS program that brought Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown to a roundtable discussion with a small group of interested parties and I was excited to be able to ask a question regarding the supervision over funds being used by the School District, more specifically the $94 million being proposed as part of the Actual Value Initiative. Her answer was somewhat vague but understandable that there would be an accountability structure put in place to make sure the School Reform Commission and the School District were beholden to a few key criteria in ensuring the money was well spent.
While I support the idea of supervision and accountability, it makes me a bit leery that the discussion described is taking place without publicity and, more importantly, some kind of community connection. Unfortunately, the city government is complicit in the fiscal irresponsibility over the past 10 years. We need something different to be created to watch over any money being spent by the School District and School Reform Commission.
The majority of the current iteration of the SRC was not involved until a few months ago but I think you understand my point - we need someone with a vested interest who has not already had their proverbial “hands in the pot” to help take care of things. This could be an elected board of some kind or an already-established community group. We just need someone to have faith in and, unfortunately, right now that does not seem to exist.
Thank you,
Brian Cohen
One Letter Per Day Campaign
440 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
May 24, 2012
Dear members of the School Reform Commission,
I was fortunate enough yesterday to attend an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee’s ACCESS program that brought Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown to a roundtable discussion with a small group of interested parties and I was excited to be able to ask a question regarding the supervision over funds being used by the School District, more specifically the $94 million being proposed as part of the Actual Value Initiative. Her answer was somewhat vague but understandable that there would be an accountability structure put in place to make sure the School Reform Commission and the School District were beholden to a few key criteria in ensuring the money was well spent.
While I support the idea of supervision and accountability, it makes me a bit leery that the discussion described is taking place without publicity and, more importantly, some kind of community connection. Unfortunately, the city government is complicit in the fiscal irresponsibility over the past 10 years. We need something different to be created to watch over any money being spent by the School District and School Reform Commission.
The majority of the current iteration of the SRC was not involved until a few months ago but I think you understand my point - we need someone with a vested interest who has not already had their proverbial “hands in the pot” to help take care of things. This could be an elected board of some kind or an already-established community group. We just need someone to have faith in and, unfortunately, right now that does not seem to exist.
Thank you,
Brian Cohen
One Letter Per Day Campaign
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