November 19, 2019
The District will close the school and relocate students and staff after the PFT’s discovery of dangerously high asbestos levels.
"The PFT is glad that the District is following our recommendation that all students and staff be moved from the Pratt Early Childhood Center until the asbestos in the building has been abated."
October 8, 2019
"At today’s town halls at 440, the students, parents and school staff from Ben Franklin and SLA let the District know–loudly and clearly–that they feel disrespected and neglected. And they are absolutely right. From the management of the construction, to their handling of asbestos hazards, to their communication with school communities, the District has failed to properly address the myriad concerns raised by this utterly shambolic renovation project."
October 4, 2019
Asbestos levels in the building that houses Ben Franklin High School and Science Leadership Academy are still too high to safely allow students and staff to enter.
September 30, 2019
During tests over the weekend, the PFT Health & Welfare Fund discovered damaged asbestos materials in two areas of the school that are under construction.
PHILADELPHIA–“The PFT is glad that the District and the union agree that the asbestos levels in two areas of Ben Franklin/Science Leadership Academy make it too dangerous to allow students, staff, and the school community to enter the building at this time. The decision to close the school tomorrow and Wednesday is the correct one.
September 18, 2019
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, through the PFT Health & Welfare Fund, today released an action plan for identifying and managing the abatement of asbestos-containing building materials (ACBMs) in high-risk areas in Philly’s public schools. “Healthy Schools Action Plan: Asbestos Crisis in Philly Schools” defines the danger and makes pointed recommendations for mitigating the health hazards caused by asbestos.
PFT’s Healthy Schools Action Plan lays out a series of “action items” for five key areas.
September 11, 2019
In response to news that a longtime Philadelphia school teacher has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, members of the Fund Our Facilities Coalition held a press conference at the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers offices to call for an immediate $100 million investment to perform lead and damaged asbestos abatement in Philadelphia’s public schools. The figure makes up the bulk of the $170 million the Coalition has been calling for since May.
AFTPA President Ted Kirsch applauded the vision and funding in the Governor's 2019-2020 budget proposal.
In Los Angeles, UTLA members took to the picket lines because their schools are starved of resources. In Washington, D.C., President Trump has shut down the government to secure his border wall. In her monthly New York Times column, AFT President Randi Weingarten writes that when our elected leaders fail, whether by not funding public schools or by shutting down services that provide for our safety, they strike at the very heart of what makes us a democratic republic. Read the full column.
AFT leaders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington offered their condolences in the wake of the mass shooting of 13 congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning.
In her monthly New York Times column, AFT President Randi Weingarten highlights the massive gap between President Trump’s rhetoric and reality. While the well-to-do are doing very well in the current economy, working Americans have been left behind. Weingarten demands leaders take action to benefit all Americans by ensuring accessible, affordable healthcare for all; reining in college debt; and adequately funding public education. Read the full column.