Latest news with #Watlington
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Charlotte City Council member alleges corruption amid reported CMPD settlement
Charlotte City Council member Victoria Watlington alleged corruption within city government in an email to supporters Tuesday night amid reports of a settlement with the city's police chief. The email, sent from her campaign account, begins with the words 'Power Corrupts' and says she's 'extremely concerned with the level of unethical, immoral, and frankly, illegal activities occurring within City government.' The email also contains a 'contribute to the cause' link that typically appears on top of Watlington's campaign messages and directs to an ActBlue donation page for her council campaign. 'I have seen enough. Over the last five and a half years, I have witnessed the brazen disregard for dissenting opinions and the rule of law. Never, however, have I seen such an egregious example as what has occurred in the last week,' the email continues. 'It is time for a change.' The email did not specify what Watlington was referring to. But it was sent the same day WSOC and WFAE reported the City Council agreed in closed session to a settlement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings to prevent a potential lawsuit over now former-Council member Tariq Bokhari's push to get new bulletproof vests for police officers. WSOC, The Charlotte Observer's news partner, reported council members voted during a closed session April 28 on a potential settlement but failed to meet the threshold for approval with multiple members absent from the meeting. During another closed session Monday, the previous vote was deemed to meet the six-member threshold under council rules because of a council member who left the meeting without being formally excused, according to WSOC. The potential lawsuit reportedly stemmed from friction between Bokhari and Jennings over outer-carrier vests for police, including heated text messages previously reported by WFAE. Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Watlington's statement was 'not based in reality, political rhetoric at best.' In a statement posted to social media Tuesday night, The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police said Charlotteans 'should be outraged' over the reported settlement. The organization supported Bokhari in his push to get outer carrier vests for officers. 'While the city is negotiating paying out over hurt feelings, many Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers who are physically suffering feel the city pays no attention to them,' the FOP's statement said. Charlotte NAACP President Corine Mack confirmed to the Observer she filed an ethics complaint against Bokhari in January over the issue, claiming he and the FOP 'began a crusade against' Jennings. WSOC reported two top Jennings aides advised her on her complaint, which Mack said was dismissed by interim City Attorney Anthony Fox for insufficient evidence. Multiple City Council members declined to speak with an Observer reporter about a settlement deal. Bokhari, who now works for the Federal Transit Administration, also declined to comment. Watlington did not immediately respond to a call from an Observer reporter Tuesday night about her email. First elected in 2019 to represent District 3, Watlington is now an at-large council member and unsuccessfully sought mayor pro tem in 2023. She leads the city's Housing, Safety and Community Committee and was the top vote-getter among council candidates in the last municipal election.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Philadelphia Schools Could Start Before Labor Day for the Next 2 Years
This article was originally published in Chalkbeat. Philadelphia students could head back to classes before Labor Day for the next two years, according to proposed academic calendars the district released Tuesday. The pre-Labor Day start for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 calendars will allow for longer spring and winter recesses as well as additional cultural and religious holidays throughout the year, district officials said this week. Superintendent Tony Watlington also confirmed Tuesday that district schools and offices will be closed on Friday for the Philadelphia Eagles celebratory Super Bowl parade. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter 'We look forward to celebrating the Eagles' victory as a community, and we hope that our students, staff and families will do so safely and responsibly,' Watlington said in a statement. The question of whether to start before or after Labor Day has rankled families and district leaders in recent years, in part because many Philly schools do not have adequate air conditioning. That has forced some buildings to close or dismiss students early due to excessive heat in the first week back. This school year, the first day back landed before Labor Day, and 63 schools without air conditioning dismissed students early, during the first week of classes. However, school started after Labor Day in 2023-24, and heat closures still impacted students' learning time that first week. Watlington said at his state of the schools address this year that over the past three school years, the number of schools without air conditioning has shrunk from 118 to 57 thanks in part to a donation from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Shakeera Warthen-Canty, assistant superintendent of school operations and management at the district, said their academic calendar recommendations this year are built off of a survey and several in-person feedback sessions. The majority of parents and caregivers who responded preferred a post-Labor Day start, the survey found. But students, teachers, school staff, and community members reported they overwhelmingly preferred starting the school year before Labor Day. Some 16,400 parents, students, school staff, principals, and community members responded to the survey the district sent out last September, Warthen-Canty said. Respondents also said they wanted more frequent breaks for longer durations to accommodate family vacations, as well as time to rest, support mental health, and prevent staff burnout. State law says districts must have a minimum of 180 student days, or a minimum of 900 instructional hours for elementary school students and 990 hours for middle and high school students. The district's collective bargaining agreement with the teachers union also requires 188 teacher work days, as well as a minimum of 28 professional development hours. The district officials' calendar recommendations will go to the school board for a vote before they are enacted. If approved, winter recess would be seven days in 2025-26 and eight days in 2026-27, while spring break would be five days both years. In addition to the five state and national holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day), Philadelphia school district school holidays in 2025-26 and 2026-27 would include: Labor Day Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur Indigenous Peoples Day Veterans Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Presidents Day Lunar New Year Eid al-Fitr Good Friday Eid al-Adha Juneteenth This school year, both Indigenous Peoples Day and Veterans Day were school days. As for how the new calendar may interact with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker's commitment to 'extended-day, extended-year' school: Deputy Superintendent Jermaine Dawson said this week the district has ensured any expansion of that program will work 'alongside our calendar of school days.' This story was originally published at Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Philadelphia public schools won't have 2-hour delay if Eagles win Super Bowl 2025
Sorry, Philadelphia public school students. If the Eagles dethrone the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, there will be no schedule changes for the day after. In a video posted to YouTube, Superintendent Tony Watlington says the School District of Philadelphia will operate on normal schedules on Monday, Feb. 10, regardless of the result of Super Bowl 2025. Watlington's reasoning, however, reeks of superstition — certainly a normal feeling for Eagles fans. "Having been a social students teacher and still a bit of a student of history, I want to share a little bit of history with you," Watlington said. "In 2018, when the Eagles went to Super Bowl LII and won against the New England Patriots. As I recall, we did not have a two-hour delay in the school district. The Eagles returned to the game five years later for Super Bowl LVII. That year, well, we did have a two-hour delay, and guess what? Unfortunately, the Eagles lost." "And so, in keeping with the winning tradition, we will not have a two-hour delay on Monday, Feb. 10. Schools will operate on normal schedules. …I hope all of you enjoy the game with friends and family and cheer on our Eagles safely. And I look forward to seeing you back at school and work on Monday. Go Birds!" On Monday, at least five districts or schools in New Jersey will operate on two-hour delays: Cumberland Regional High School, Camden County Technical School District, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights and Pennsauken. Kickoff for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans is scheduled for about 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- CBS News
Thinking about the Jersey Shore? These tips will help you save big on your summer rental
We might only be halfway through winter, but it's never too soon to start thinking about booking that summer rental down the shore. CBS News Philadelphia asked a local listing agent what you should consider to save some money. Duane Watlington, who runs a listing website for owners, says when and how you book will make a big difference in the price you ultimately pay. We met up with Watlington at a recently renovated, two-bedroom, oceanfront listing in Wildwood. "This one ranges between just under $5,000 a week to just under $6,000," Watlington said. Those prices are for peak season, which is July to mid-August. But Watlington said locking in your visit even just a few weeks before or after that timeframe can potentially save you thousands of dollars. Watlington showed us pricing for that same property in late August. "The last week of August, it drops down to just under $4,000," he said. "Then this is probably the best value week of the summer to come. Labor Day week, it's only $2,800." The price dropped to $2,000 during the last week of September, when Watlington said the weather is generally still great. "The water's warm, there's less crowds, and mostly everything is still open, especially on the weekends," he said. Right now, interested renters have the best selection of inventory, according to Watlington, but things start filling up fast toward the end of February and into March. While location is usually a top priority when picking a property, Watlington also says to make sure you know exactly what amenities you're getting and how many the unit sleeps. To save even more, he recommends looking for booking sites that let you contact the owner directly. "Avoid the service fees, taxes and additional charges that a Vrbo or AirBnb would add," he said. "That's going to save you, on average, about 27%, so if you think of weekly rental here in Wildwood at an average of $3,000 a week, that's almost $800." But what about negotiating your way to a better price? Watlington says you probably won't have much luck doing that, especially during prime summer weeks. Even outside of those, owners tend to bring down their pricing in the shoulder and offseason anyway. Your best shot to negotiate might be for a longer stay of two or more weeks.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Superintendent Watlington discusses state of Philly schools; improvements and challenges
The Brief The School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington delivered his State of the Schools address Thursday. FOX 29's Jeff Cole spoke to the superintendent in advance of the address to get the latest on Philly schools. PHILADELPHIA - While admitting Philadelphia public schools have a long way to go, Superintendent Tony Watlington sees important improvements in student performance. He answered questions from FOX 29 in advance of his celebratory State of the Schools address. What they're saying "We are really excited. We think when all the data is verified across the country, we'll be declared one of the fastest improving, large school districts in the country," said Watlington. That has been Tony Watlington's goal since the day he took control of Philadelphia schools. In a State of the Schools message, Watlington said, "more students are coming to school and staying. Reading and math scores are up in grades 3rd through 8th. And the dropout rate is down by 14 hundred." Watlington reports, "the School District of Philadelphia, the nation's 8th largest, has increased enrollment by 1,841 students. That says to me parents and the community have greater confidence in the school district." The superintendent believes challenges remain, including no improvements in algebra, a coming plan to close schools and grinding poverty. In his third year of a five-year contract, he said, "I believe poverty provides a level of significant challenge. As a child of poverty myself, I know firsthand the power of a highly qualified, well-supported, stable teacher." The district's four and a half billion-dollar budget will see an infusion of more than two hundred thirty million in new state money, the result of a successful lawsuit claiming unequal state funding and more city dollars as well. Watlington said with the increased funding he plans to, "double down on what's working. High impact, high dosage tutoring, doubling down on professional development supporting teachers." The superintendent has a challenging teachers' union contract to help negotiate in the fall and plans to stay put. "I intend to be here as long as the mayor and board will have me. I'm absolutely committed to Philadelphia, yes," said Watlington. The Source The information in this story is from The School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington.
