The Philadelphia School District announced significant changes Tuesday to its Master Plan for school closures. Ten schools that were targeted to close will now stay open, while two others not on the original list for closure are now slated to close.
Meade Elementary in North Philly was one of the ten schools that wasn't supposed to survive. So imagine how surprised parents were to hear that Meade will remain open. Charky Wallace sounded absolutely stunned. "That's so great, that's so wonderful," Wallace told Fox 29 outside the school. "I don't have to take them all the way around the world now. I can just take them here around the corner from where I live at, that's real good."
Dr. William Hite, the Philadelphia School District superintendent, made the changes after hearing from thousands of people. "It played a significant role, we analyzed and reviewed every recommendation," Dr. Hite explained.
Parents with kids at Meade and the other nine schools may be thrilled. But saving those schools does mean the district won't save quite as much money, a problem when it's facing more than a billion-dollar deficit over five years. But Dr. Hite says the changes are smart. "We found that some of the recommendations actually made a lot more sense than the ones that we had put forward.
Two schools not on the original list to close are now on the chopping block: M.H. Stanton and Beeber Middle School. If the new plan goes into effect, those schools will shut their doors after the end of this school year.
Trina Benjamin is the mother of three M.H. Stanton students. Benjamin told Fox 29 she did not anticipate this development. Her level of shock? "Between 1 and 10, it's a 10," Benjamin said.
Beeber Middle School, the other school that was originally supposed to remain open, is closing after parents at two other schools complained loudly. "Gompers and Overbrook were both outperforming Beeber, which also happens to be on the persistently dangerous school list," Dr. Hite explained.
While the new list of school closures is just about complete, pending approval by the school reform commission, the district superintendent is warning this won't be the last of it. "Unfortunately for us it's never all finalized. AS a matter of fact in our five year financial plan it does have a smaller number of schools that must also be considered for closure moving forward."
Friday, May 17 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:08:49 GMT
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.If you were lucky enough to get outside Friday, to a place like the Perkiomen
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.
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A Hollywood A-lister takes the world by surprise by opening up about a very private matter. Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday she chose to have a double mastectomy to lower her risk of getting cancer.
A Hollywood A-lister takes the world by surprise by opening up about a very private matter. Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday she chose to have a double mastectomy to lower her risk of getting cancer. Jolie's not the first woman to do it, but she may be the most high profile. Her decision is touching off a serious conversation about the preventive measure.
A Philadelphia jury is scheduled to start a fourth full day of deliberations in the case of a Philadelphia abortion provider facing multiple counts of murder.
The jury in the death-penalty trial of a Philadelphia abortion provider has gone home without a verdict after another day of deliberations.
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A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:38 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:38:13 GMT
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:26 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:26:23 GMT
When SEPTA trains roll into stations in Radnor Township, Main Line passengers aren't the only ones getting on and off. Police say criminals are now using the rails to pull off home burglaries.
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Friday, May 17 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:08:49 GMT
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.If you were lucky enough to get outside Friday, to a place like the Perkiomen
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:01 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:01:38 GMT
Police are investigating a bizarre confrontation at a local elementary school. The alleged combatants were a grown woman and an 11-year-old girl. Some of the details are still a little twisted, reports
Police are investigating a bizarre confrontation at a local elementary school. The alleged combatants were a grown woman and an 11-year-old girl.
