School Layoffs 'Ridiculous,' Parent Says

Last Friday, the Philadelphia School District announced that it would layoff more than 3,500 employees in order to save $133 million in personnel costs.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Haviva Goldman, President of the Friends of J.S. Jenks Elementary School in Chestnut Hill.  “I don’t really know how any school can function if these cuts that are proposed go through.”

After Friday’s round of layoffs, the Jenks School has lost a counselor, a secretary, all of the noontime aides and two teachers.

“It’s not just that the positions are gone,” Goldman said.  “It’s the people.  The students know the counselor.  They trust the counselor.”

Goldman added, “These people are integral parts of the community.  Having them gone is very disruptive to the fabric of the school.”

However, Goldman hopes that changes can be made before the budget is finalized.

“We need a lot of advocacy on a local and state level,” Goldman said.

Goldman recommends calling your city council person or your state representative and letting them know how you feel.

“Reaching out to your local reps can would be impactful,” Goldman said. 

Goldman added that she believes in public school, and that she sends her third-grade son to Jenks because it’s such a great place.

“It has a good heart,” Goldman said.  “It’s a very nice environment.”

When Goldman moved to Chestnut Hill she didn’t have children.

“We always thought we would have to move to the suburbs or find a private school,” Goldman said.  “But we chose Jenks.”

Goldman along with several other parents from the school formed the Friends of Jenks organization as a way to get involved and to help the school.

“We really wanted to form community partnerships,” Goldman said.  “We wanted to work on improving the school’s infrastructure.”

Despite the district’s lack of funds, the Friends of Jenks recently raised $9,000 at a fundraising event on June 1.

However, it’s not nearly enough.

“I can’t really fathom what’s going to happen if all of these cuts go into effect,” Goldman said.  “I can’t even think about that right now.”

“We have to hope that people will realize that this isn’t acceptable,” Goldman said.