Philadelphia City Councilmembers, union leaders call on Mayor Parker to prevent school closures
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. For more than a year, Philadelphia students, teachers, and community members have protested the district’s plan to close 17 schools . But Mayor Cherelle Parker hasn’t been a particularly loud voice…
Philadelphia City Councilmembers and union leaders have urged Mayor Cherelle Parker to prevent the closure of 17 schools, according to reports. The district's plan, approved in April, aims to renovate nearly 170 schools and address declining enrollment and empty seats. However, Parker has largely avoided the discussion and avoided blame from families and community members.
City Councilmember Rue Landau called on the mayor to broker a deal to keep schools open, while Council President Reginald Streater stated the closures are necessary to ensure high-quality buildings and address empty seats. Unite Here Local 634 president Nicole Hunt criticized Parker for influencing the Board of Education, stating that voters should replace her if she pursues more closures.
Parker's administration has maintained support for the plan, but no committee to guide the closures has been established. Despite protests, the closure process is already underway, with some students already transitioning to new schools. The district estimates the closures will cost $3 billion, primarily funded through grants.
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