PHILADELPHIA – Two education reform groups recently filed amicus briefs with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in support of an effort to allow Philadelphia school officials to dismiss cumbersome work rules without union consent.

The Philadelphia School Partnership and PennCAN, “two controversial education reform groups,” filed a brief with the Supreme Court Monday calling on the high court to address a recent case filed by the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC), Philly.com reports.

The SRC previously asked the high court to reaffirm special powers granted to the commission by the legislature to impose work rule changes normally negotiated with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers union.

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The reform groups contend it’s “crucial for this Court to fully consider this case and breathe life into the legislative command that the (SRC) is to be empowered with the flexibility to quickly respond in times of budgetary crisis and provide for the long-term sustainability of City public education,” according to the brief cited by Philly.com.

After months of fruitless negotiations with the PFT, the district’s school reform commission is looking to impose work rule changes like the elimination of the union seniority system for layoffs or transfers, and to do away with the deadline for issuing layoff notices and minimum staffing requirements.

The union, of course, objects. PFT President Jerry Jordan used the most recent filing as an opportunity to badmouth the Philadelphia School Partnership and PennCAN.

“It would be refreshing to see PSP and PennCAN working with educators to ensure that all our children have access to nurses, counselors, librarians and classroom supplies,” he told Philly.com. “Sadly, they seem more interested in helping make sure the district can legally deny all of these programs and services to our children.”

What Jordan doesn’t say is the PFT’s ridiculously expensive employment contract is what’s driving the district to make deep cuts in the classroom. He doesn’t explain that PFT members get free personal legal services paid for by the district, while students go without supplies. He doesn’t want the public to understand that teachers pay little to nothing for their health insurance coverage, while the district is forced to close schools to make ends meet.

Jordan wants the public to believe Philadelphia school officials and the SRC are evil meanies, while he flatly refuses modest concessions that would help the district make financial and academic improvements.

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If the PFT won’t help district officials do what it takes to provide a quality education for the city’s students, then the SRC will have to make the changes itself, and it appears ready and willing to do so.

Reformers are hoping the state’s Supreme Court will uphold their authority to unilaterally change work rules for the good of students, a move that would undoubtedly force the PFT to wake up and cooperate.