Elementary school students from at least two West Philadelphia schools plan to walk out of their classrooms tomorrow (Wednesday, May 15) and travel with their parents to City Hall to protest the proposed school budget cuts.

Students and their parents from Powel Elementary and Penn Alexander will join parents and students from the C.W. Henry School in Mount Airy in leaving school tomorrow morning to travel to City Hall to protest the proposed cuts, which would eliminate guidance counselors, music programs, assistant principals, nurses and librarians at most schools in the city. District officials have asked the city for $60 million to help make up the $304 million budget shortfall. They have also requested funding from the state and for union concessions.

“Our goal is to have City Council provide the additional $60 million in funding to put counselors, secretaries and after-school clubs back in the schools,” said Robin Dominick, who is helping to organize the walkout at Powel. Dominick estimates 20-30 families will take part.

Participating students and parents from Powel plan to leave at about 10:15 a.m. on the trolley for City Hall, where they will join with parents and students from C.W. Henry at between 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the northwest corner of City Hall.

Students wrote letters to city officials in school this week detailing how the cuts will impact them personally. They plan to deliver the letters to City Council members tomorrow, Dominick said.

A small but growing group of students and parents from Penn Alexander is also planning to attend the rally.

Hundreds of high school students walked out of their schools on May 9 to rally at City Hall in opposition to the cuts.

More details about the proposed budget are available here.

– Mike Lyons