Education Activists End Fast Over Philly School District Cuts

Education activists have ended their days-long fast in protest of the ongoing school district layoffs in the city. The fast ended due in part to Harrisburg’s tentative proposals that could generate $141 million for the district, a chunk of cash that leaves activists optimistic about the Philadelphia School Districts ability to rehire laid off staff members. Meanwhile, though, the school district says it’s far too soon to know of the proposed bailout would extend enough budget to hire back any number of the 3,800 employees they recently laid off. School officials’ trepidation seems well-founded, given that the proposals have not all been approved—and even if they were, there is still a deficit of $163 million to worry about. So while the fast is over, the crisis is far from the same. [AP]