Faculty lament poor area schools

Chicago, Ill. Convincing faculty members to live in West Philadelphia has been a major part of University efforts to make the area a more lively and stable community. But many faculty members have cited the lack of "adequate" schooling options in the area as the main factor keeping them from moving to West Philadelphia. The area's public schools have a poor reputation and many have ranked towards the lowest in standardized testing throughout the city. And private schools are also not an option for many faculty parents because of their high costs and since there is only one private school -- the University City New School -- in the neighborhood. History Department Chairperson Lynn Lees said one of the biggest reasons faculty have fled University City for suburban locations in recent years is the lack of good schools in the area. And administrators are aware that concerns about area schools represent a major impediment to attempts to attract faculty and staff back to the neighborhood. "We know that this area will not thrive as a place for faculty and other homeowners to live unless there is a good school system," Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman said. "[The importance of school options when making a housing choice] is true for faculty and it's true for everybody," she added. "Schools are the most key issue." Administrators stress that they are working with the community and the school district to improve the public school system, but some faculty members have expressed concern that the University is not doing enough. History Professor Walter Licht said he is glad to have raised his 15-year-old daughter in West Philadelphia, but explained that he did not find the area's public schools adequate after pre-school. "Like many faculty members, I love this neighborhood and chose to stay here but sent my daughter to private school," he said. Licht said that while the University has made attempts to improve the school system, there has not been "the necessary sustained level of commitment" to make concrete improvements to the system. He believes the University needs to adopt a relationship with one school and to focus its efforts on offering guidance "not in an imperial manner but in offering services and help." Other faculty members believe the University should attempt to establish a charter school in the neighborhood for faculty and staff children. Licht said that if the University's efforts were focused on establishing or improving one school -- either public or private -- there would be a viable option for faculty and community members. "The stability of the neighborhood rests on increasing home ownership," Licht added. "One way to increase this is through good school options, and in terms of schools, the University has not done enough."