Four months ago, SEPTA management announced its intention to make significant service cuts that would eliminate 32 city bus routes and provide much less frequent service on 63 others. In June, the SEPTA board voted to implement those cuts and to raise fares over 20%. Weeks later, SEPTA advised riders on how to prepare for the now imminent cuts.
In August, SEPTA confirmed that the route eliminations and service reductions would be implemented on Sunday, August 24–the day before Philadelphia students were to return to school.
Those who came to the Board of Education’s August 21 action meeting expected to hear the district’s plan to get the over 50,000-SEPTA riding students to school. But there was no plan–other than Superintendent Tony Watlington, Jr.’s advice to parents to car-pool. Seriously. There was no acknowledgement of the many district parents who have no car nor of those whose work schedule prevents them from driving kids to school and picking them up after. No plan for the children who attend the newly created extended-day programs or those participating in after school sports. None of the nine board members expressed surprise that after four months the administration had no plan, nor did they direct Watlington to come up with one as soon as possible. Even regular observers of the board were astonished by the lack of leadership in a time of crisis.
Those counting down the days and weeks until SEPTA’s cuts and fare hikes went into effect had expressed frustration with Mayor Cherelle Parker’s remaining in the background throughout the summer, with few comments from her or her office on the matter. Were the members of the school board, all of whom had been appointed by the mayor, taking direction from her in remaining silent?
At that same meeting, the public did witness a rare display of independence by the board when they voted to postpone voting on six agenda items that would grant tax abatements to local developers under the Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) initiative. KOZ abatements must be approved by the board, along with City Council, because the tax abatements provide less income to the district than it would receive if developers paid the full tax rate.
Regular attendees of board meetings expected the same outcome when KOZ abatements items were considered in the past, including those for the subsequently cancelled sports arena: full approval by the board, with good reason. The six KOZ items were placed on the agenda just two days before the August meeting, affording little time for the public to research the numerous properties, their owners, and the developers. Representatives from the mayor’s Commerce Department were granted their own presentation, with unlimited time to pitch the mayor’s position. When APPS members asked for time to present a rebuttal, including information omitted by the mayor’s representatives, we were denied. It looked like KOZ items would again be passed without protest–until the board pumped the brakes.
At most action meetings, the board votes to approve up to fifty items, totalling millions in spending, without one minute of deliberation. So it was refreshing to see board members engage in lengthy discussion on the unproven benefits of the KOZ abatements. Board members questioned the lack of evidence to back the representatives’ main selling point–the number of jobs filled by public school graduates at other KOZ developments over the past twenty years. The board did not hide its dissatisfaction when the City representatives gave them little more than vague promises to get back to them on that.
Apparently the board did not appreciate the insultingly inadequate presentation. They voted 7-1 to postpone voting on the six items.
Board members take an oath, as members of the governing body of the district, to serve all of the people of Philadelphia, not just one politician or political body. They showed us, briefly, what they can do when they exert their independence for the greater good. Let’s see more of it as the board decides the future of Philadelphia’s public schools.
Lisa Haver is a former Philadelphia. She is a co-founder and coordinator of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools
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