( CNN ) -- Philadelphia 's 218 public schools may not open on time in September unless the district receives $ 50 million from the city by Friday , Superintendent William Hite says . Hite gave the city the ultimatum after the layoff of close to 3,800 employees this summer due to a `` drastic financial shortfall . '' The massive layoffs included aides , assistant principals , social workers and arts teachers . If the city does n't pay up by Friday , Hite says , the district may not be able to open all 218 schools for a full-day program on September 9 . `` Without the funds to restore crucial staff members , we can not open functional schools , run them responsibly or provide a quality education to students , '' Hite said . Mayor Michael Nutter called it one of `` the most chilling '' statements he had ever heard a superintendent make , but he said stands `` shoulder to shoulder '' with Hite and will not allow schools to open with the staff that he can currently afford . Hite and Nutter have urged the City Council to extend a 1 % sales tax to make up the difference but -- despite approval from the General Assembly and Pennsylvania Gov . Tom Corbett -- City Council President Darrell L. Clarke says he would rather focus those funds on the city 's critical pension problem . If the city does not solve the retirement fund issues , Clarke said , Philadelphia could quickly follow in the footsteps of other major cities with significant financial problems . As an alternative , Clarke proposed the city purchase the school district 's surplus vacant real estate for $ 50 million and sell the property to developers who could turn it into potential job producers . Hite does not believe that will bring the district closer to financial stability , according to Fernando Gallard , spokesman for the school district . Hite and Nutter are also negotiating a contract with the local teachers ' union , hoping to save money by asking teachers to make concessions on certain benefits . Because there has been no agreement with the union , $ 45 million in aid from the state previously allocated to the school district is being withheld . Once the negotiations are complete the funding will be released , Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said Tuesday . With Hite 's Friday deadline looming , Mayor Nutter said he believes opening the school district without the necessary funding would be `` irresponsible . '' `` We have what we have and we fight another day to get more , '' Nutter said .
The superintendent of Philadelphia public schools gives an ultimatum . If the district does n't get $ 45 million by this summer , schools wo n't open on time . The district had to lay off one employees Friday due to a financial shortfall . Pennsylvania 's mayor call 's the ultimatum `` chilling '' ; he backs the superintendent .