PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — At a raucous meeting Thursday, twice recessed because of protests from members of Philadelphia City Council, the School Board voted 6-3 to approve the superintendent’s controversial plan to close 17 schools.
The meeting was loud and frequently interrupted by shouting members of the public. School Board President Reginald Streater began by voicing support for the 10-year, $3 billion plan that would close 17 schools.
“If we are serious about improving student outcomes, we must be willing to disrupt the status quo,” he said.
But it was City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas and nine of his colleagues who disrupted the meeting, shouting “shut it down,” when it appeared the plan had enough votes to pass.
After Streater recessed the meeting a second time, members of the board left the board room and took the vote on Zoom. The angry crowd remained in the room and shouted “shame” as the vote was projected onto the boardroom screen
Thomas said Council would consider suing the school board and keeping the six members who supported the plan from being reappointed to the volunteer board.
