The decision drew criticism from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, whose leaders said the rejected proposal and uncertainty around school funding leave hundreds of jobs in the balance.
At a news conference, union officials expressed frustration with Council's decision to block the mayor's proposed $1 tax on rideshare trips, which the administration said would have generated $50 million annually for the School District of Philadelphia.
They also criticized the district's handling of the situation.
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PFT President Arthur Steinberg said the district had not clearly warned that positions might remain cut if funding proved temporary.
Without the proposed recurring revenue, about 340 positions are lost, according to the union.
"Never once did they say if we only got it for one year, we're not going to restore the cuts. That is deplorable and really absurd," Steinberg said.
While City Council approved a one-time $48 million allocation for the district, Steinberg said that funding does not guarantee long-term job security.
"Throughout the process, it never came up because we all intended to get this recurring, predictable revenue, but at no time did the district say if it's not recurring we're not going to put the positions back. So, this is really all on them," he said.
Steinberg also pointed to declining morale among educators, saying the current funding situation comes at a difficult time for staffing.
"Morale is lower than it's ever been. We have more people than ever in the past applying to jobs outside the district," he said.
Union leaders said they plan to continue pressing the school district to restore the positions, signaling the dispute over funding and staffing is likely to continue.