Phila. Public School Parents Wage Fight Against Privatization
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's School Reform Commission is set to vote Thursday on turning over two district schools to private charter companies, but some parents hope to convince members to vote against the proposal.
It's a lopsided fight -- a group of mostly moms, with kids in school, up against the school superintendent and two charter companies, one run by New York hedge fund managers. But parent Danielle Campbell says she believes it's one worth fighting.
"These are our children and our teachers so why don't we have a say," said Campbell.
Campbell spoke at a news conference outside Cooke Elementary, which is slated to be taken over by the New York based Great Oaks charter chain, under the district's Renaissance program, because of continued poor performance. But Campbell says the school has been starved of resources to improve.
"Yes, Jay Cooke needs help so give us help. If the School Reform Commission was doing its job, it would be reforming our public schools instead of selling them off to the highest bidder."
The district spokesman did not return calls seeking comment.