Phila. public school year begins today

More than 167,000 Philadelphia public school students returned to classrooms this morning.

New schools chief Arlene Ackerman, who formally opened the school year at Barry Elementary in West Philadelphia, has vowed more district resources will go into classrooms this year.

Students, parents, teachers and dignitaries jammed the Barry Elementary schoolyard for a back-to-school celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony under a hot August sun.

"This is what it's all about," Ackerman told 600 pupils. "I want you to work hard so you can be anything you want to be. You are stars."

The $35 million Barry building, at 59th and Race Streets, opened for the first time after fire caused the first school to close in Dec. 2005.

"I'm more excited than he is," said parent Sasha Vann, pointing to her second grader, Malik Johnson. "It's a new building, a new year, a new start."

Ackerman ushered in the school year with Mayor Nutter, who is spending his week focusing on education issues. Nutter has directed 80 senior city officials to join him greeting students and parents at schools around the city.

Many districts in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey suburbs also welcome students back today. Other districts, charter schools, and private schools have already begun.