April 28, 2024
Regarding the delay in moving forward with the nomination of Joyce Wilkerson to the School Board, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:
PHILADELPHIA-- "I urge members of City Council to advance the nomination of Joyce Wilkerson to the School Board of Philadelphia.
"As I shared in my letter to every member of Council last week, Ms. Wilkerson has been laser focused on ensuring that our District has the resources that are needed to ensure our students’ success. As the District has worked to claw its way back from the devastation of the Corbett budget cuts, Ms. Wilkerson played no small part in that rebound.
"It is entirely unfortunate the Council has delayed the nomination of an incredibly well-qualified candidate with an unparalleled depth and breadth of experience. Ms. Wilkerson's qualifications uniquely position her to be an instrumental member of Mayor Cherelle Parker's first appointed School Board.
"This cannot, and should not, be a decision based on individual grievances or disagreements. As I have shared, the Federation has certainly not agreed with Ms. Wilkerson on every decision she has made. But complete agreement, alignment, and conflict avoidance should not be what our city seeks in Board members.
"Joyce Wilkerson's legacy thus far has been one of public service, and her (volunteer!) work on the School Board has been rooted in integrity, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the students of our city. Couple that commitment with a deep understanding of the inner workings of government and the District, it is outrageous that the decision to reappoint her could ever even be in question.
"Further, the outpouring of support for Ms. Wilkerson's nomination from a host of individuals and organizations, along with the endorsements of the already-appointed Board members, should be a testament to the public consensus that Ms. Wilkerson is the right person for the role.
"As individuals and a collective, all with an indisputable commitment to our young people, we must remain laser focused on advancing our shared goal of ensuring that every child in every school has the resources they need to thrive.
"I have faith in Joyce Wilkerson, and I urge Council to support her nomination."
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