Excuse24 me. Would you spell your last name for25 370 5/25/11 - WHOLE - BILL 110135, ETC.1 the stenographer.2
I'm a product of7 public schools. My wife is a product of8 public schools. I believe very strongly9 in the mission of public schools and what10 public schools should do for children.11 You've heard from several12 people today about the impact that the13 current budget crisis will have on the14 entire district. However, I'd like to15 tell you about what this means for our16 neighborhood school and my kids in17 particular.18 C.W. Henry is one of19 Philadelphia's public school success20 stories. Our test scores are pretty21 good. The quality of our art, music and22 gifted support programs is as good as or23 better than what you'd find in many24 private schools. We have an enviable25 371 5/25/11 - WHOLE - BILL 110135, ETC.1 level of parent involvement and a2 community that values and supports the3 school. Families move in to Henry's4 catchment in order to send their children5 there.6 Henry's teachers, principal and7 parents manage to do all of this on very8 little year after year. We already9 operate without a cafeteria and a10 library, but just like every year, we'll11 be making more cuts to an already12 bare-bones budget. However, this year13 the District is considering cuts that I'm14 not sure our school can recover from.15 I'll touch on just a few.16 We'll lose art. My son's17 artwork is currently on display in the18 District building on Broad right at this19 moment, artwork created in a class that20 he loves and that will disappear next21 fall.22 We'll also lose gifted support.23 My daughter currently receives gifted24 support once a week. While that may not25 372 5/25/11 - WHOLE - BILL 110135, ETC.1 sound like much, the difference that this2 program has made in her attitude and3 enthusiasm for school has been amazing.4 By the way, in addition to all5 of the students currently receiving6 gifted support, our GS program also7 provides enrichment programming8 throughout the school year to all of our9 students.10 Finally, we'll lose our school11 nurse. School nurses are important to12 all children, but the nurse at Henry is13 particularly important to my family since14 my son has both asthma and severe15 allergies. It scares me to think that16 there won't be a medical professional on17 site to help him when he gets sick.18 My wife and I chose to send our19 children to a public school in this city.20 We had other options, but Henry is a21 great school. If Philadelphia expects to22 keep middle-class families like mine,23 it's got to do a better job of supporting24 our public schools.25 373 5/25/11 - WHOLE - BILL 110135, ETC.1 Thank you for your time and2 consideration.3
Thank4 you. Thank you very much. Thank you for5 your patience and your testimony. You've6 been our special guest. You're the final7 guest today, and we thank you for8 testifying.9
Is11 there anyone else who would like to12 comment, speak, say any remarks before we13 recess this hearing?14 (No response.)15
This16 hearing then will be recessed until 9:3017 tomorrow morning.18 Thank you all very much.19 (Committee on Streets and20 Services recessed at 7:40 p.m.)21 - - -22 23 24 25 374 1 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on May 25, 2011, and that7 this is a true and correct transcript of same.8 9 10 11 12 --------------------13 MICHELE L. MURPHY14 RPR-Notary Public15 16 17 18 (The foregoing certification of this19 transcript does not apply to any reproduction20 of the same by any means, unless under the21 direct control and/or supervision of the22 certifying reporter.)23 24 25