PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia’s proposal to close 20 schools but modernize dozens of others is likely to see revisions before it's presented to the Board of Education, according to Superintendent Tony Watlington.
“Absolutely. It is likely that there could be some tweaks or some reconsideration of some things,” Watlington said on KYW Newsradio's “After School” program.
The facilities plan has received support from Mayor Cherelle Parker but pushback from some members of City Council. Watlington said the proposal is a first draft, and that some schools could come off of the closure list.
The district has been holding a monthlong series of “feedback sessions” at the 20 schools targeted for closure. “The feedback that people are giving us is not token feedback. This is not optics,” he said. “We're serious about engagement.”
Watlington noted he hasn't been at many of the feedback sessions to date, to avoid the appearance of favoritism. He said he plans to conduct districtwide meetings in the coming weeks, though, before he presents his recommendations to the school board on Feb. 26.
“I am going to personally lead three citywide town hall forums and stand eyeball-to-eyeball, shoulder to shoulder with members of our community to hear that feedback directly to me,” Watlington said.
“We're still in a listening process. Because this is a big city and there are 20 schools here, [it's] too soon to call the question on what we take away from all this engagement.”
At feedback meetings so far, parents, students and elected officials have largely questioned — if not opposed — school closures. Watlington said he understands their point of view.
“I would be shocked if any school community stood up and said, ‘Hey, we get it. Close my school for the benefit and the long-term health and progress and survival of the district,’” He said. “That's not quite how tough decision-making happens.”