Philadelphia School Board Votes To Shut Down M.H. Stanton Elementary School
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Yet another Philadelphia school is closing its doors for good this June.
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission last night voted to close the M. Hall Stanton Elementary School, in North Philadelphia.
The SRC had already decided to close 23 schools, and last night Stanton principal Arthurea Smith pleaded with the panel not to make hers number 24.
"Your decision to add Stanton to your school closure list has devastated our school community," she said.
Nenvertheless, the commission voted 3-1 to close Stanton and send its children to Duckrey Elementary, at 15th and Diamond Streets.
Schools superintendent Wililam Hite says Stanton, at 16th and Cumberland Streets, and Duckrey are both way under capacity.
"Both schools have continued to decline in enrollment," he said, "and we do not project that it is likely that there is going to be an enrollment increase."
After the vote, angry parents walked out of the meeting as the SRC continued its business.
