Saint Nutter To Save Philly Schools, Guv. Corbett Vows to Hold District Students Hostage Until the Union Breaks

We've been following the Philadelphia School District budget crisis closely this week - as its gotten little play in the Delaware press.  The situation is remarkable for a number reasons - the superintendent's nuclear threat, a history of edu-nuclear meltdowns, the influence of Eli Broad the district's operation, the union busting governor who's witholding grant funding until the union capitulates and concedes collective bargain rights... And of course, the fall-out on students and parents in the impoverished urban district.

It appears that hope, in the form of Mayor Nutter, may finally be on the horizon:

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter on Thursday said the city will seek to borrow $50 million to avoid a delayed start to the public-school year for 136,000 students. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324823804579014773649474290.html

"We will avoid this disaster," Mr. Nutter said at a news conference. He said he was directing city officials to "take all necessary steps" to borrow $50 million on behalf of the school district. "I believe this mechanism is the best way to immediately get these needed dollars to the school district with virtually no financial impact on our city," he said.

Mr. Nutter also said he would deliver proposed legislation Thursday to the city council to implement an extension of a city sales tax that is due to expire. He said the legislation would include language allowing half the revenue from the tax to go to the school district, if the state Legislature approved changes in the distribution of the revenue.

However, not all is well and good:

Separately, Gov. Tom Corbett is currently withholding a $45 million grant to the school district until it negotiates major concessions with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The funding was contingent on the school district making financial, academic and operational changes.