National teachers union president visits Philly, denied entrance to Lincoln High
A few dozen activists were so upset about the Philadelphia School District’s budget crisis that they interrupted City Council’s first meeting of the fall.
The advocacy group Fight for Philly and the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools, an alliance of parents, students and teachers, stormed into Council’s chambers Thursday, waving signs and demanding more money for the school district.
“Fund our schools!” they chanted. “Fund our schools!”
The protesters stalled the meeting for about five minutes before leaving at Council’s request.
The school district has made drastic cuts this year to plug a $304 million budget gap. Classes began this week with 3,000 fewer guidance counselors, assistant principals, librarians, teachers and other employees.
Weingarten had hoped to visit Abraham Lincoln High School to get a close look at how budget cuts are affecting classes, but that didn’t happen.
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