Statement from the School District of Philadelphia on the central and regional administrative office personnel layoffs

In light of our serious financial crisis, The School District of Philadelphia has issued layoff notices to 76 employees who work in central and regional administrative offices.

Last week, the District announced more than 3,780 school-based layoffs.  In total, the school-based, regional and central administrative office reductions represent 19.9 percent of the current 19,530-member workforce.  Overall, the school district has seen a 34.3 percent reduction in staff since 2011, including a 44.6 percent reduction from central administration.

The new round of layoffs will impact all central administrative offices, including academic and operational functions, contributing to more than $23 million in budget cuts, up to approximately 40 percent of individual department budgets.

Overall, 137 positions are being eliminated, which includes vacant positions.  For the 2014 fiscal year, the central administration budget will comprise 2.3 percent of the District’s $2.39 billion budget.

The layoffs are the result of both a $304 million deficit in the District’s operating budget, and more than $134 million in reductions to federal grants such as Title I and IDEA.

Given the already-depleted size of central and administrative functions, today’s layoffs will result in the elimination and reduction of key services and supports that include:

• Academics

-Reduction in professional development support for teachers and principals

-Elimination of drivers education

-Reduction in Career and Technical Education supports

• Student services

-Reduced capacity for student placement

•  Communications

-End to live-streaming School Reform Commission hearings

-Elimination of day to day audio and visual supports for schools

-Severe reduction in PSTV Channel 52 programming

•  Information Technology

-Reduction in technical support for schools and central office

•  Facilities

-Reduction in custodial services, engineering and maintenance

Increase in custodial workload

• Family and Community Engagement

-Reduced customer service to parents and families

-Severe reduction in administrative support throughout central office, including phone response to parents

•  Transportation

-Reduction in customer service

-Elimination of recertification and remedial training for drivers

The layoffs in regional administrative offices will primarily impact early childhood education.

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