The hot topic on Wednesday’s Philadelphia School Reform Commission agenda was the announcement of the 31-recommendation facilities master plan.
Basically, the idea is that the school district would close some schools and consolidate others to save money. The proposal calls for relocating AMY Northwest Middle School to Levering, selling four schools, changing the grade levels at 17 schools and closing others.
The first phases of changes would take effect in the 2012-2013 school years.
"We want to signal this facilities plan, as much as anything, as a new day for the district but also one where the entire city can get engaged on improving how education is delivered in the city of Philadelphia," Acting Superintendent Dr. Leroy Nunnery said.
At least nine schools are on the chopping block:
Levering Elementary School
Harrison Elementary School
Sheppard Elementary School
Drew Elementary School
E.M. Stanton Elementary School
Fitzsimons High School
Sheridan West Academy
Philadelphia High School for Business
Pepper Middle School
Eight of schools would be closed by the end of the school year in 2013 while Pepper, which currently serves fifth to eighth graders, would drop a class each year until it closes in 2016.
The last time the school district addressed closing this many schools at once was 1981, officials said.
The plan is set to be voted on by the School Reform Commission no later than this spring.
In the next three months the district plans to hold 17 community meetings on the recommendations in hopes to answer the questions of concerned parents.
A joint letter from Philadelphia leaders supports the plan:
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
"(The) plan which aims to align education programs, resources, and facilities in a way that benefits all students. Philadelphia has seen a dramatic shift in its educational landscape in recent years. A number of factors including general population and demographic shifts, the proliferation of charter schools, and a reduction in education funding have left the district with 70,000 extra seats.
"Some public schools sit half-empty and are poorly positioned to provide the best education to the children who are left behind in their classrooms. Students at these schools are often underserved either through a nurse who is part-time or teachers and specialists who are split between two or three schools. The solution for these students and their parents lies in a rebalancing of the district's facilities and resources. The ultimate goal of the FMP is to allow the district to deliver better services to students and to create operational flexibility in its facilities such that it can respond to uncertainty concerning several issues that could impact the district's enrollment."
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President responded to the proposals:
“If consolidating and closing under-used buildings means that the district can redeploy resources and offer Philadelphia’s kids the same, broad educational opportunities that are available in neighboring school districts, our students will benefit tremendously.
“With the current budget constraints, many students are shortchanged because resources are spread too thinly to offer children a full range of activities, programs and support. Many schools lack full-time nurses, enough psychologists and counselors and have cut art and music programs and school libraries staffed by librarians.
“Schools are community hubs, and closing schools and redrawing attendance boundaries can take a tremendous toll on students, families and communities and must be done with great sensitivity to educational, cultural and neighborhood issues. The SRC will have to be particularly mindful of the important role schools play in defining communities and be open to revising the plan so that closings do not undermine communities that have built alliances, which support strong neighborhood public schools.
“Throughout this difficult process, parents, students, teachers and school staff have to be fully engaged. Their voices must be heard and their opinions valued.
“Finally, the SRC must reinvest financial savings into schools and make sure they are safe, have small classes, offer well-rounded academic and enrichment programs.”
Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, our mobile site and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our breaking news newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
