Eileen Duffey-Burnt – School Reform Commission Testimony – September 17, 2015

Eileen Duffey-Burnt - School Reform Commission testimony - 9-17-15

The article in today’s Public School Notebook sharing the contract with Source for Teachers immediately interested me. I was very curious to know what consequences were written into the agreement to protect students, teachers, and families from the fallout in the event that the outsourced firm was unable to meet the terms of the agreement. I could find none.

Here’s what we could do. We could all meet here tomorrow morning and vote to cancel their contract!

After the colossal mistake causing the school year to begin on a chaotic note rather than on a happy one for students and parents, there is likely no way to make this right.

So my first question for you Dr Hite is this:

Just what are the consequences because I and just about the entire city of Philadelphia will be listening for your answer.

It is clear that to call Source for Teachers a poor performer is a gross understatement.

A non performer is a bit closer to the truth.

The question now is, “Are you going to make the same mistake again?”

I am looking at this situation from the point of view of a school nurse waiting for a hatchet to fall in your efforts to privatize the school nurses …

WITH NO REGARD FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL CODE

WITH NO REGARD FOR THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OF CERTIFIED SCHOOL NURSES WHO STAND BEFORE YOU HERE EACH MONTH.

We nurses have made it clear that our professional integrity will not allow us to participate in your dismantling scheme.

I am still more than a bit dismayed at your recent characterization of community concerns about the systemic privatization of the district as “silly”.

These voices are the voices of Philadelphians, some of whom used to teach in our public schools. The crisis we find ourselves in demands the engagement of all citizens, none moreso than lifelong Philadelphians who care deeply about the future of our city. There is nothing “silly” about what we do.