SRC Holds Full Day Of Hearings On Public School Closings Tomorrow
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The School Reform Commission has a full day of hearings scheduled tomorrow, on nine public schools slated to close.
Expect impassioned testimony, student performances and pleas from lawmakers as the School Reform Commission holds a daylong session on its plan to close nine schools and move one other.
The hearings, one hour for each school, are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Temwa Wright, parent of a sixth-grader at E.M. Stanton -- one of the schools on the closure list -- realizes that the district needs to close under-enrolled schools.
"These are tough decisions they have to make because of this financial environment we're in. And we understand that. What we disagree with is how you go about doing that and what factors you look at. And how do you weigh those factors. And we think what should be top-weighed is school performance."
Wright says the academics and arts programs at her school have been solid. "Our message, and has been our continued message, is that you do not close a high-quality school. We need more high-quality schools, not fewer high-quality schools. And Stanton is one of those."
The SRC plans to vote on the school closings at its March 29th meeting.
