Pink slips for 260 Philadelphia School District employees Friday

Fernando Gallard, a spokesman for the School District, said the majority of the layoffs are the result of school principals' choices.

"That's a bunch of crap," Jordan said. "When they portray this as the principals made these decisions, it's not a fair assessment. If they gave principals the money they needed, the principals would have staff."

The district is on the brink of insolvency, facing at best a $218 million shortfall for the 2012-13 school year that it has said it would bridge through borrowing, rather than further classroom cuts.

Schools were rocked by two rounds of cuts this academic year — one at the beginning of the year, and one in December. Many buildings now lack full-time nurses, school police officers, and robust extracurricular activities.

The coming layoffs will hurt even more, Jordan said.

The School Reform Commission and district officials often repeat their desire for "safe, high-quality schools," Jordan said, "and now more people who are responsible for dealing with safety and school climate are being laid off."

Contact Kristen Graham at 215-854-5146, kgraham@phillynews.com or on Twitter @newskag. Read her blog, "Philly School Files," at www.philly.com/schoolfiles.