Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement In order to carry into effect the goal of the Parties for sustained transparency, real-time access to information, and sustained fiscal accountability as set forth in Resolution No. 150593, adopted by the City Council of Philadelphia on June 18, 2015, the Parties covenant and agree as follows. 1. Submission of Quarterly School Manager Reports. The School District shall prepare and submit to Council a new quarterly school manager report (“QSMR”). The QSMR shall contain information including, but not limited to, the following: expenditures, revenues, positive and negative variances, fund balance projections, cash flow, and staffing updates, including vacancies and new hires. The School District shall submit the QSMR to City Council within forty five (45) days of the close of each quarter of the fiscal year. The School District contemporaneously shall publish the QSMR on its website. 2. Inclusion in Five-Year Financial Plan Process. The School District shall continue to prepare annually for School Reform Commission (“SRC”) approval a detailed fiveyear financial plan, which shall set forth revenues, expenditures, and economic and budgeting assumptions, including clearly outlining how the School District anticipates investing additional funding increments. City Council may designate a representative to collaborate by providing input on the preparation of the School District’s five-year financial plan. At the request of City Council, the School District shall provide all pertinent documentation and pertinent fiscal and operational materials to explain and justify the five-year plan.
Cooperation of Financial Officers. Following the submission of each QSMR, the Chief Financial Officer of the School District shall meet with the Chief Financial Officer of City Council to discuss the fiscal condition of the School District. Between these meetings, the Chief Financial Officer of the School District shall respond promptly to any information requests within the scope of this Agreement from the Chief Financial Officer of City Council. 3.
4. Briefings and Support for Members of Council. At least quarterly, the School District shall host an intensive briefing for City Council members and their staff on a major issue in K-12 education related to the School District’s efforts to improve school quality and expand equity. These briefings serve to permit the Parties to share real-time information about important ongoing educational initiatives; discuss both successes and challenges in collective work to create a system of great schools; and receive feedback from City Council members. a. Additionally, the School District shall designate a specific team member from the School District’s Office of Advocacy and External Engagement to serve as a liaison to each City Council office. The designated team member shall serve as the main point of contact for constituent services requests, information requests (by Councilmanic district or citywide, depending on the City Council member), and other assistance. The School District’s designated team member shall also assist in gathering and providing available information about charter schools, as requested, working in collaboration with the School District’s Charter Schools Office.
5. Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Parties shall adhere to all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. The sharing of documents and information shall not be deemed a waiver of any privilege or confidentiality nor be deemed to convert any document into a public record within the meaning of the Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq. 6. Statutory or other Immunity. Each of the Parties enjoys various forms of immunity under existing law. Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or otherwise waive any such immunity defenses of any Party. 7. Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall be from the date first set forth above through and until June 30, 2017. By mutual written agreement, the Parties may renew this Agreement for additional terms. In Witness Whereof, the Parties have executed this Agreement as October 7, 2015. THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA
By:__________________________ Darrell L. Clarke President City Council THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA
By:___________________________ William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D. Superintendent THE SCHOOL REFORM COMMISSION
By:___________________________ Marjorie G. Neff Chair
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