Parents Vote Overwhelmingly To Keep Steel Elementary School Under District Control
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Parents at an elementary school in Nicetown have voted overwhelmingly to keep the school under district control, instead of converting it to a charter.
There were two votes at Steel Elementary on Thursday: The general parent vote was 121-55 to keep Steel a district school. A separate School Advisory Council vote was 9-8 to convert Steel to a Mastery charter.
Even before the results were announced, some parents filed a grievance with the district. SAC president Kendra Brooks said many longtime SAC parents hadn't toured a Mastery school, as the district required as a prerequisite to vote.
"We have long-standing, active parents at this school being disqualified. That is not fair," Brooks said.
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A spokesman says the district is reviewing the grievance. The School Reform Commission gets the final call on whether Steel becomes a charter. That vote is scheduled for the May 29 meeting.
