SRC Holds Hearing on School Closings

Teachers, parents and community members show up to tonight's meeting to discuss the closings.

The School Reform commission holds the first of three official hearings on the plan to close 29 Philadelphia Schools.

Teachers, parents and community members were heated as they spoke about their concerns, including the safety of some children, who they say will be forced to walk a longer distance through rough neighborhoods to get to new schools.

"The School District's job is to basically take the time to do a proper study," said Parent Antoine Little, who wants to see a one year moratorium.

NBC10's Chris Cato asked the SRC chairman Pedro Ramos about the safety of students and he says it's not just the district's responsibility.

"The public responsibility we all have as neighbors, parents, public officials," said Ramos.

A topic that wasn't addressed at tonight's meeting is the possibility of Head Start being privatized in the city.

"I came through the program as a parent, this is not a program the city of Philadelphia can afford to lose," said Charlene Haywood-Brown, who tells NBC10's Cato that she hopes to speak to the commission at the next hearing.

Contact Us