BY GEORGE TOMEZSKO
Staff Writer

Philadelphia school superintendent David Hornbeck touted the reforms his administration has brought to the city's public school, and faulted the state for failing to provide fair and equitable funding to the city's schools. Hornbeck said a state takeover of the Philadelphia school system could spell disaster for public education in the city.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Somerton Civic Association, Hornbeck said during his three years as superintendent, citywide educational standards have been implemented in English, math, science and social studies. In addition, "multiple-choice" tests have been replaced with more challenging tests, and an accountability system has been put into place for teachers and principals.

He also noted that efforts to involve parents in the education of their children are proving successful.

"We have 10,000 more parent volunteers than three years ago," Hornbeck said.

Hornbeck also said that his administration has allocated additional monies, some from private sources, to purchase more badly-needed textbooks.

"There is no longer a financial reason why a child should be without a book in English, math, science, or social studies," he said.

Among other accomplishments he cited was that the ratio of computers to students has improved from one computer for every 30 students three years ago to one computer for every 10 students now.

"In fact, our success in getting computers has outstripped our ability to support those computers," he said.

Hornbeck also pointed out that his administration has been making strides in cost-cutting and in obtaining grant money. He claimed that the school district has received $152 million in grant money over the last three years.

"We've raised more money than the other 16,000 school districts in the nation," he said.

Hornbeck also said that the school district is on target to save $45 million by the end of this year, due to cutbacks in the number of administrative staff and other economies. He claimed that more than 400 administrative positions have been eliminated.

"We have made good on our promise to shift money from the administration to the classroom," he said.

But Hornbeck said his proudest accomplishment has been the introduction of full-day kindergarten, which was inaugurated in September of 1996.

"This was the first time full-day kindergarten was offered in the history of the district," he said.

But Hornbeck also mentioned that he has not succeeded in persuading the state government to fulfill what he called it's "moral and constitutional responsibility" to provide the district with its fair share of tax monies.

He explained that the 61 suburban school districts adjacent to Philadelphia have an average of $2,000 more in revenue to spend per student. He said that this disparity in funding has prevented efforts to reduce the average class size in the city's schools, which stands at 33 pupils.

"We should not have more than 17 children in each classroom in kindergarten through the third grade," Hornbeck said.

This prompted some in attendance to question him on class size. One resident pointed out that the parochial school system can educate children in much larger classes. Hornbeck replied that he did not think it was realistic for the public school system to enlarge class sizes.

"I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree on this issue," he said.

Turning back to the question of adequate state funding, Hornbeck said that he, Mayor Rendell, and City Council have agreed that no more cutbacks will be made within the school system. He said cutbacks in areas like music would lower the quality of education in the city's schools.

"We quite consciously made the decision that, before we cut further, we would run the schools until the money ran out, then let (Gov. Ridge) step in," Hornbeck said. "So now we sit at the edge of this precipice." He was referring to recently-passed legislation which empowers the state to take over the city's schools unless further budget cuts are made by the district.

But Hornbeck said there were valid reasons to defy the state government by refusing to make additional cuts.

"What people don't know is that out of every 10 kids who enter first grade in the city, we lose seven of them, and pretty soon it will be eight," Hornbeck said. "There comes a time when you have to say, 'enough is enough.'"

Hornbeck said that the worst scenario that could occur is a possible state takeover of the city's public school system.

"This will, in my opinion, end up destroying public education in the city," he said.

He estimated that he had one year to forestall this possibility, and he appealed to those present to "have a conversation with Harrisburg" during the coming year.

"The process can be stopped," Hornbeck said, "but the legislature needs to hear from parents and community folk."

In response to a question, Hornbeck said he supported charter schools, but with reservations. He explained that they have only benefitted about 5,000 of the city's 213,000 public school students thus far. He also noted that the state law which allows charter schools to open requires that money be transferred from other public schools to fund them.

"I don't want people to think that charter schools are a silver bullet," he said.

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