PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The troubled city school system opened three new high schools Monday in an effort to show that officials are committed to innovating and boosting achievement despite fewer resources and the specter of massive layoffs.

Superintendent William Hite enthusiastically greeted the founding staff and students at The LINC school, even while expressing uncertainty about the district’s precarious finances. He made $32 million in cuts last month to ensure classes could start on time for all 135,000 public school students.