PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With classes at five schools this year disrupted by asbestos concerns, City Council is preparing to explore whether an authority separate from the school district should manage the city’s troubled school facilities.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, the chair of the education committee, plans to introduce a resolution on Thursday to look into the legal logistics of creating an independent authority to bond and manage the school district’s 300 buildings — an idea first proposed by former City Councilmember Maria Quiñones Sánchez in January of last year.
The resolution would authorize hearings into how asbestos, mold, lead paint and other issues in the district’s aging buildings can be managed by a separate authority.
“We’re in the process of looking to do a deep dive into what all parties think would be the ideal way to try to create an independent entity to assure that we’re addressing the facilities crisis,”
He said now is the time to act, with the recent Commonwealth Court decision meaning additional state funding was likely. Thomas says the goal is to show state lawmakers that Philadelphia has a plan in place, to instill confidence that additional funding to address facilities will be well spent.
“I think that it’s important that Harrisburg recognizes that we’re thinking about every option possible as it relates to putting them in a position to feel comfortable delivering as many dollars as they can to address the facilities crisis,” Thomas said.
The district, in a statement, didn’t directly address the concept of outside facilities management, but said it looked forward to continuing discussions about how to improve buildings:
“The School District of Philadelphia is grateful for the commitment our stakeholders have in addressing decades of disinvestment in our public schools. We look forward to continuing discussions about how to improve our facilities because all students and staff should have access to 21st century learning spaces.”
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