Several weeks ago, I voted in favor of a contract that took me from a 12 month employee to a 10 month employee – even though I know that I’m going to work for much of the summer. The contract also now has me paying more for health care and all in, it will mean that I see about 15% less in my paycheck every week.

I voted for it, not because I really am excited to make less money, but because it was the responsible thing to do in the midst of a massive budget crisis. If we are to make the case that we, as principals, are the responsible stewards of the education of the children of Philadelphia, then we have to be willing to lead and make sacrifices for the sake of our children. I am proud to say that the contract passed with overwhelming support from principals.

Today, many of those same administrators went to City Council to ask our council members to end the political squabbling and make the hard decisions to put the children above the politics and fund our schools. Specifically, we need City Council to do the following:

  • Pass the extension of the 1% sales tax extension.
  • Shift the property tax millage so that the School District gets 60% of the revenue, not 55%.
  • Press the PA State legislature to approve a cigarette tax for Philadelphia.
  • Work with the Philadelphia delegation and the parents and students and educators in Philadelphia to demand a fair and equitable funding formula and to restore charter reimbursement funding at the state level.

These are not easy decisions for our council members. No one likes passing new taxes. But leaders do what is hard. I was thrilled that several members of council told us – unequivocally – that they will vote in favor of the proposals to create and sustain funding streams for our schools. I was honored to stand with my fellow principals today and ask City Council to do what is hard.

This is about the children of our city, which means this is about our city and our future.

When SLA students asked me about the contract the principals just signed, and they ask me why I voted for a contract that lowered my take home pay, I told them simply, “Because I care more about you than I care about the money they took.”

Now, we need our political leaders to speak powerfully and clearly to our students and say, “I care more about the children of this city than I care about political posturing.”

We – the principals I stood with today and the politicians who serve in City Hall – are merely the stewards of our city for the amazing young men and women who will inherit it. We will be judged by the quality of our stewardship. It is long past time to be worthy of that stewardship and simply, powerfully do what is right.