This month parents, students, teachers, and administrators around the country are adjusting to the challenges of a new school year.
But in Philadelphia, the challenges aren’t just about new schedules or reading assignments–they’re about severely cut budgets. In June, 20 percent of the district’s employees were laid off, schools were shut down, and teachers are now being pressured to accept deep wage cuts.
Karen Thomas is Principal of Cook-Wissahickon Elementary, which has lost the equivalent of four full-time staff members.
And Robin Dominick is the parent of a fourth grader and a second grader at Powell Elementary, a school whose student body will be increasing by nearly 20 percent beginning today, which is the first day of school in Philadelphia.
Charles Zogby, Budget Secretary for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, weighs in on what the government is doing amidst the budgetary crisis.Â