"Faculty and staff who have been organizing against budget cuts and “austerity” have been demanding worker-led decisions. Indications that workers and students are not involved in considerably impactful decisions aren’t hard to find.

February 14, 2020

On Thursday, February 13, before a meeting with the Richmond School community and on the heels of the ninth and tenth school closures due to asbestos, PFT President Jerry Jordan joined with Fund Our Facilities Coalition partners to once again call for Governor Wolf to declare a state of emergency for the School District of Philadelphia. 

February 7, 2020

The School District of Philadelphia made a commitment to complete all asbestos remediation at Hopkinson Elementary before reopening the building.

"The School District of Philadelphia has informed the Federation that they have agreed to our recommendation that urgent asbestos remediation be completed before the school is cleared for reoccupancy. This is an absolutely commendable decision and one borne out of the relentless advocacy of the PFT and all of our members."

January 29, 2020

The Governor today put forth an ambitious plan of action to secure $1 Billion in funding for asbestos and lead remediation.

"Today’s announcement by Governor Wolf is a long-awaited and important step forward in our fight for facilities investments. The PFT has led the charge in advocating for substantive action to comprehensively address the humanitarian crisis that our educators and the students they teach are enduring each day."

January 20, 2020

On a day commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., PFT President Jerry Jordan joined parents and educators to announce legal proceedings against the School District to address the ongoing facilities crisis.

1/17/2020

Overnight asbestos sampling results at McClure came back elevated.

"Upon the discovery of the protocol breach and failure to properly manage a dangerous asbestos contamination condition at McClure Elementary, the Federation emphatically stated that we were unable to assure the McClure community of the environmental safety of the building. Early yesterday morning, we conveyed our concerns to the McClure staff and reported to the school for further discussion."

January 16, 2020

Late last evening, PFT HW Environmental Science Director Jerry Roseman learned that asbestos air samples collected by School District consultants on Tuesday afternoon in the City Year room were elevated with alarming levels of airborne asbestos detected. Likely leading to this situation was an egregious breach of the best practice protocols that, to this point, he had reason to believe were well underway at McClure Elementary School during their asbestos remediation.

January 8, 2020

A coalition gathered at a shuttered Philadelphia school to urge the Governor to prioritize facilities funding in this year’s budget address.

This morning, a coalition of educators, parents, elected officials and community partners joined PFT President Jerry Jordan outside of Carnell Elementary to once again call attention to the urgent facilities crisis unfolding in Philadelphia’s schools. Carnell is one of six schools that have been forced to close this school year due to imminent asbestos hazards.

January 3, 2020

Our Facilities Fight: Where we’ve been and where we’re going.