PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia's is the only school district in Pennsylvania that is not elected. The power to shape the city’s Board of Education belongs to the mayor, who appoints the panel’s nine members with confirmation by City Council.
Since its return to local control five years ago, the Philadelphia school board has approved no new charter schools and even returned several to the district to run. The board last year also inked a five-year deal with Tony Watlington to serve as superintendent.
Democratic mayoral candidates told KYW Newsradio that they wanted a board that aligned with their educational vision, but that it was too soon to talk about how they might change the makeup of the board.
Allan Domb
Former Councilmember Allan Domb said his school board would advocate for students from a mix of different types of schools.
“If I became mayor, I would want to appoint nine school board members who have the best interests of every student in the city. Whether it’s a district public school or district charter school or parochial school — whatever it is,” he said.
“The nine board members would advocate for the parents’ decision as to where they’re sending their kids. Every child in this city is our child, and I would want to educate every one of them. And the school board has to represent every child in the city.”
Domb declined to talk about the composition of the current board. “I haven’t interviewed any of them right now. I don’t think that would be appropriate until I’m elected. So I would wait until after November,” he said.
Helen Gym
Former Councilmember Helen Gym is endorsed by the teachers union and has been a persistent skeptic of charter school expansion. She said she would assemble a board that share s her desire for safe, up-to-date schools.
“I believe that the mayor and the school board need to be partners in modernizing our schools and making sure that our kids are safe in coordinating a robust vision for bringing teachers and educators back to our school system,” Gym said.
“I will look for school board candidates who share that vision and be real leaders in building the public trust and engaging parents and young people.”
Does that mean she would seek personnel changes on the board? “I will be looking to have a board that really reflects that vision. I’m sure some people may be part of that and others may be new.”
Jeff Brown
Grocer Jeff Brown told KYW the city is in an "educational crisis" and said there’s not enough emphasis on career and technical education.
“The mistake we made is, if you look at the numbers, more than 75% of our young people don’t have a plan to go to college,” he said.
Brown said he would assess board members in one-on-one meetings.
“I would want to meet with and evaluate each of the board members individually. Since the selection of the board is the only real direct power the mayor has to implement their agenda for our schools, those selections become critically important, particularly given our current educational crisis.”
Rebecca Rhynhart
Former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart wouldn’t say if she planned changes on the Board of Education.
“I’m not making personnel decisions while on the campaign trail. But I do think that the power the mayor has to appoint the school board is incredibly important. And I will utilize that to appoint a school board that shares my vision for school improvement and that makes sure that every child is going to a good school.”
When asked about the current board, Rhynhart replied, “After I win as mayor, I will go through with the school board and see if they do share my vision. I think what we need to do is have a kid-centered approach and make sure there’s accountability and there’s goals and metrics to get the education level up in all of our schools.”
cherelle parker
Former Councilmember Cherelle Parker, in a statement to KYW Newsradio, said she looked forward to talking with current and potential future board members to ensure they share her goals.
“As mayor, my first priority will be quality seats in world-class school buildings across the entire city; year-round schooling; schools that open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. High schools partner with businesses, city departments, and the building trades to provide training for jobs that are available and needed, as well as partnering with colleges and universities to provide best-in-class preparatory training for students who are college-bound,” Parker said.
David Oh
Former Councilmember David Oh, who is running unopposed for the Republican mayoral nomination, said he would not only name a completely new board, but he would support changing the city charter to have five of the nine members publicly elected.
“I would reconstitute the school board and then I would try to push through a bill that I introduced [in 2021] that the mayor would only appoint four, and the city would be divided into five zones and let the people elect a representative from their zone to serve on the overall school board," he said.
“I think the school board is just not responsive to the community, and I think it’s important that the community have input for their zone what they expect and want from their school board.”
State Rep. Amen Brown’s campaign did not respond to our questions. Highlighted here are the candidates who filed the latest campaign finance reports by the mandated deadline. Warren Bloom, Delscia Gray and James DeLeon are the other Democrats in the race.
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