Philly Teacher To "Call Out" District, City Officials With Interstate 95 Billboard

Shame is the name of the game a Philadelphia teacher is now playing after not being granted raises for five years, as the teacher wants to "call out" city and School District of Philadelphia officials by posting a billboard on Interstate 95.

George Bezanis, a teacher at Central High, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the bill board, and as of the afternoon on Monday, Feb. 13, about $1,500 of the $5,000 goal has been raised.

"The hardworking members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers have gone without a raise for over 5 years while the School District of Philadelphia refuses to negotiate a fair contract for its workforce," the GoFundMe page says. "As each month passes with no agreement in sight, Philadelphia loses more and more great educators to other surrounding districts. It is the over 100,000 children in the district, however, who suffer the most because of this lack of a stable workforce."

The fundraiser will be extended on a monthly basis to pressure city and district officials to reach agreement with the teachers, the GoFundMe page says,

The billboard, designed by Outdoor Media, will read, "Welcome to Philadelphia where we don’t value our public school children" and feature images of School Reform Commission Commissioner Bill Green, Mayor Jim Kenney, and Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.

Philly.com reports the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has been working without a contract since 2013 and the district projects a $500 million deficit by then end of 2021.

"Our desire is a contract which fairly compensates our teachers, but also retains the fiscal stability that the district has fought so hard for," district spokesman Lee Whack told the outlet.

You can donate to Bezanis' cause by visiting the GoFundMe page here.

Image via GoFundMe