By Jack Tomczuk<\/p>\n
It\u2019s in the Board of Education\u2019s hands now.<\/p>\n
School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. presented his decade-long, $2.8 billion facilities master plan Thursday to the Board of Education. In the parlance of Board President Reginald Streater, the \u201cfootball has been handed\u201d to the nine-member BOE, all of whom were selected by Mayor Cherelle Parker.<\/p>\n
Any further changes to the plan, which recommends the closure of 18 schools<\/a>, would be expected to spring from the board. The body has not set a date for a final vote.<\/p>\n Streater asked members to \u201ckeep an open heart, an open mind\u201d as the BOE begins deliberations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want more quality, in addition to the quantity,\u201d he added, following Watlington\u2019s address. \u201cBut I think if we\u2019re willing to sacrifice one, our children deserve quality.\u201d<\/p>\n Board members weigh in<\/strong><\/p>\n Board members commented on the recommendations Thursday \u2014 for the first time since Watlington unveiled them Jan. 22<\/a> \u2014 and asked the superintendent questions.<\/p>\n \u201cDoing nothing is not responsible leadership,\u201d BOE member Wanda Noval\u00e9s said. \u201cHowever, I see the plan that includes data, but I am struggling to see the heart, the heart that considers the lived realities of our neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n Watlington characterized the need to consolidate the district\u2019s footprint as an \u201cunfortunate reality,\u201d driven by lower enrollment and chronic underfunding.<\/p>\n \u201cIn an ideal world, I never believe in closing schools,\u201d he said during his presentation. \u201cAnd to be frank, I would never want that to happen to my child\u2019s school.<\/p>\n Board member Crystal Cubbage told Watlington that she is interested in a more aspirational vision that incorporates more new schools and attracts investment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a bolder plan. This is a false choice that we have here,\u201d she added. \u201cThe buildings are not the point. The children are the point.\u201d<\/p>\n Steps to develop a district-wide facilities strategy began four years ago, and BOE member Joyce Wilkerson warned her colleagues that \u201cwe can\u2019t afford to be locked into inaction.\u201d Streater stressed the need to address building issues to further academic improvements.<\/p>\n The board is organizing a dedicated facilities town hall meeting March 12, solely for the purpose of hearing public comment on the plan. BOE officials also launched an online portal<\/a> to accept feedback.<\/p>\n School reassignments<\/strong><\/p>\n Two of the 20 schools slated to shutter under Watlington\u2019s initial proposal were removed from the closure list Thursday.<\/p>\n Kensington\u2019s Russell Conwell Middle School and Southwest Philadelphia\u2019s Motivation High School would continue to serve students under the updated plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School will still close; however, students will now be diverted to Walter B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences instead of Roxborough High.<\/p>\n Pairing the schools\u2019 missions and continuing to provide Lankenau students access to nature on Saul\u2019s 130-acre campus is a \u201cwin-win,\u201d Watlington told reporters at a briefing Thursday.<\/p>\n Paul Robeson High School, which had been set to move to William L. Sayre High, will now be merged into Motivation as \u201cRobeson-Motivation,\u201d district officials said.<\/p>\n Students from Lewis Elkin Elementary School will be fed into Conwell to boost enrollment, and other children from across Philadelphia will still be able to apply to the middle school\u2019s magnet program, according to Watlington\u2019s team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe this is the best possible plan to present, given our limited resources,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Watlington added that the changes \u201creflect robust community input.\u201d His office has held more than 40 in-person and virtual community meetings<\/a> since the facilities proposal was released.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to Lankenau and Robeson, Robert Morris in Brewerytown, Samuel Pennypacker (West Oak Lane), John Welsh (North Philadelphia), James R. Ludlow (North Philadelphia), Laura W. Waring (Spring Garden), Overbrook Elementary, Martha Washington Academics Plus (West Philadelphia), Rudolph Blankenburg (Mill Creek), Fitler Academics Plus (Germantown), Wagner Middle School (West Oak Lane), Stetson Middle School (Kensington), Tilden Middle School (Elmwood), AMY Northwest (Roxborough), Harding Middle School (Frankford), Parkway Northwest High, Parkway West and Penn Treaty High are designated for closure.<\/p>\n In some cases, schools will be co-located in a facility, sharing a space but with a distinct programming and admissions process. Building 21 is set to be moved inside Martin Luther King; the Workshop School is going to Overbrook High; and the U-School will be located inside Edison High.<\/p>\n Students speak out\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n