Philadelphia School Board Proposes Future School Closures
The Philadelphia School District is reviewing plans regarding school closures, including the status of Ludlow Elementary School. Mayor Cherelle Parker is simultaneously pushing City Council to approve a ride-share tax to address the district's budget deficit. The mayor presented the proposal directly to council chambers this week. Supporters of the plan argued the current situation was not working and that aging facilities needed modernization. Opponents questioned the plan's potential to improve academics and the district's financial capacity to fund it. The review will consider closing 17 schools. The plan is led by Education Committee Chair Isaiah Thomas and Council Member Jamie Gaudier. Isaiah Thomas vowed to engage in civil disobedience to prevent the vote. The rally occurred prior to the scheduled vote on the closures.
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Sources · 7 independent
“Superintendent Todi Wattlington said the district looked at Ludlow's location at 6th and Master, two blocks above Gerard, and thought it would be best to keep it in the district's footprint.”
“basically looking ahead to this coming Thursday, right, the school board res like hearing process and it could still change at any point along the way. But right now any closures wouldn't happen until the fall of 2027.”
“Those for the plan said the status quo wasn't working and something had to be done with the district's aging facilities. Those opposed questioned whether it would really improve academics, and they also questioned the district's ability to pay for it. And we should talk about, because when we reference this, we almost always say closing X amount of schools, and it ended up being 17.”
“say closing X amount of schools, and it ended up being 17.”
“In the morning of Thursday, many city council members opposed to the closure plan led by Education Committee Chair Isaiah Thomas and Council Member Jamie Gaudier. They rallied outside Paul Robeson High School in University City.”
“schools won't be closing right away under the plan. Any closures wouldn't happen until the fall of 2027.”
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