PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia learned its lesson in 2013 when two dozen school buildings were closed in a budget crunch. The district said students suffered academically, as did overall performance at the schools where students were moved.
As a result, the district is now assembling advisory panels that will provide input on the future of its more than 300 school buildings.
Oz Hill, deputy superintendent of operations, said the district wants to hear from the public on what schools need as it develops a plan to best utilize its aging school buildings.
“That’s why the voice of the community becomes very important to inform or provide context to this large data warehouse,” he said.
The district’s 300-plus school buildings have capacity for 180,000 students, but enrollment — even though it went up this year — is at 118,000. At community meetings over the last month, many spoke about overcrowded schools, especially in the Northeast. However, Superintendent Tony Watlington said a draft plan that could see schools built or closed won’t be presented to the school board until next October.
“It’s premature at this time to say what might happen with this facility or that facility,” he noted.
The district this month is assembling advisory groups of parents, staff and the community to help shape the facilities plan and determine the best way to utilize school buildings to maximize academic achievement. So far, more than 100 people have applied.
Panel members will be announced on Dec. 19.
As the plan is developed, a series of virtual and in-person community meetings will be held through the end of the month.