Commonwealth Foundation: End Practice Of Ghost Teachers

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Philadelphia (CBS) - Brittney Parker, Community Liaison for the Commonwealth Foundation, called for the end of the practice where school district personnel in Philadelphia can be transferred to work for their union.

Parker, talking with Talk Radio 1210's Dom Giordano, said very few voters even know this is happening

"It's really shocking and most people haven't heard of it. It's a very well kept secret, but in Philadelphia, up to 63 district personnel, including teachers, can be removed from the school to work for the union at any given time. Right now, about 20 are actually working for the union."

She pointed out that Jerry Jordan, President of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is one of these type of employees.

"He hasn't set foot in a classroom since before I was born and that's just shocking to me, especially because he is one of those people who goes on record saying that the very least the district can do is staff the schools, but it's not only slightly comedic, but it's shocking because he himself is one of these ghost teachers who's been cutting class."

Although pointing out the union pays the salaries for teachers that work for them, Parker is supporting a bill to end the practice

"Legislation was recently introduced by Representatives Kristin Phillips-Hill and Jim Christiana and it would end full-time union leave and make sure that teachers who are hired to teach are actually in the classrooms teaching and not working for the union. So basically, we're talking about the injustice and the cost to taxpayers, it's really stunning because the union reimburses the district for ghost teachers but there's absolutely no requirement that they do so and last year ghost teachers made $1.7 Million while working for the union."