Summer break may be in full swing for students – and lawmakers, to an extent – but City Council made clear this week that it has not forgotten about the School District of Philadelphia’s controversial plan to close 17 schools.

The body’s education chair, Isaiah Thomas, gathered with six of his colleagues on Tuesday afternoon to call on the Board of Education to reconsider the 10-year, $3 billion blueprint they OK’d in April.

“We are here today to publicly ask the school board to come back to the negotiating table,” Thomas declared, from the podium inside Council chambers.

The Board of Education approved the facilities master plan by a margin of 6 to 3; BOE members retreated to private offices and took the April 30 vote over Zoom after Thomas and other Council members twice disrupted the meeting. He then demanded resignations from the board members who supported the proposal.

Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. has said the plan, dubbed “Accelerating Opportunity,” will allow the district to concentrate its limited resources and expand access to pre-kindergarten, middle school algebra and Advanced Placement courses.

The initiative includes 169 building modernization projects, with the intention of reducing the number of facilities considered to be in poor or unsatisfactory condition from 85 to 0, officials have said. However, much of that work depends on securing an additional $1.9 billion from government and philanthropic sources.

District leaders began the process of examining the school system’s aging facilities four years ago, with the aim of addressing low enrollment at some schools and overcrowding in others.

No closures or other major shifts associated with the plan are scheduled to go into effect until the 2027-28 academic term.

BOE President Reginald Streater, in a statement Tuesday, said the coming school year will “mark the beginning of the transition planning process for Accelerating Opportunity.”

“During this time, the School District will work closely with key stakeholders, particularly students, families, staff, and community members in affected school communities, to prepare for any changes ahead,” he added. “Transition planning will address academic continuity, staffing, transportation, student services, timelines, safety, and legacy recognition for affected schools.”

Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. said legislators have “tools on our tool belt that we will use” if the BOE and district are not willing to reopen talks. Council in May authorized informational hearings to explore changing the BOE’s governing structure, to allow for a fully or partially elected school board. They also intend to look into establishing an independent financial agency to oversee and audit the district.

“It is no secret the facilities plan is unpopular,” Councilmember Nina Ahmed said. “Not one – I mean, not one – person have I spoken with about the plan and its recommendations to shutter 17 of our schools is excited about this plan or agrees with it.”

Thomas’ request that the BOE “come to the table” echo sentiments he shared in late May, a month after the vote. He hopes more Philadelphians join the pressure campaign and convince school leaders to change course.

“We need you to care just as much about these 17 schools closing as you do about LeBron James coming to Philadelphia,” Thomas added.

MORE: Lessons from Philly’s last wave of school closures in 2013

Keywords

Philadelphia,

Philadelphia City Council,

School District of Philadelphia,

Board of Education,

Isaiah Thomas,

Tony Watlington,

Education,

School Closures,

City Hall,

Public Schools