Pennsylvania has pulled the plug on the Philadelphia school district’s safety watchdog.
Jack Stollsteimer has led the office for three years. The state blamed budgetary shortages for the closing of the office, which ran on a $387,000 budget. The office was closed abruptly on Aug. 14. Mr. Stollsteimer says he and his small staff were given no notice.
The safe schools advocate was created by state lawmakers in 2000 to provide reports on school violence and to issue recommendations. Philadelphia schools Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman says Mr. Stollsteimer made a difference.
But Shelly Yanoff of Public Citizens for Children and Youth said providing reports isn’t as important as creating programs that work.
