Area groups to voice concerns over schools plan

Penn's plan to build a new area public school has sparked concerns. University City community leaders have strong opinions about Penn's plan to help establish a public school in their neighborhood -- and they want to make sure University officials hear them out. After being surprised in June by the University's announcement that it would help establish a pre-K-8 school, local residents hope to send Penn officials a strong message: that the University should preserve and enhance other local schools, retain the architectural integrity of the site at 42nd and Spruce streets and ensure a diverse student body. The University City Community Council -- comprised of the presidents of the area's six neighborhood groups -- will meet tonight to discuss a resolution proposed by community members. The group will also choose its representatives for the school's educational planning, site/facility and community programming committees at the meeting. "I'm glad that somebody came up with such a concise statement of the community's concerns," said Roberta Dougherty, a representative of Penn Faculty and Staff for Neighborhood Issues for the University City Council and an area resident since 1978. The resolution -- a compilation of concerns discussed at previous meetings -- was written by area resident Richard Womer. He presented it at a September 10 community meeting called by the UCCC. UCCC Secretary Mike Hardy and Carol Scheman, the University's top community-relations official, refused to speculate on the committee's reaction to the resolution. Dougherty -- who said the resolution is an accurate summary of the neighborhood's fears -- predicted the UCCC will adopt the resolution. "I don't think that there will be any strong objections," the Penn library bibliographer said. "I hope they do [adopt it]." Scheman admitted that there are "a lot of questions that still need to be answered" about the project. But she added that it's "important in terms of moving forward? that we stay focused on the schools." Construction has not yet begun on the school, which is scheduled to open no later than September 2001. The school district will pay for the construction of the school, and the University has promised to contribute $1,000 per student each year. The estimated annual total is about $700,000. In addition to the new school, the University has also agreed to relocate the Carver High School for Engineering and Science to the corner of 38th and Market streets. Currently located in North Philadelphia, the school is overcrowded and in run-down quarters. Penn will fund the construction of the new Carver building and support its operation. A community member who asked to remain anonymous said area residents are concerned with the well-being of other local schools once the new school is completed. The resident listed several neighborhood schools, including the Drew and Lea elementary schools, as "struggling," but surviving with help from the University and the community. "[We] don't want to see a University-sponsored public school draining Penn parents and community energy away from those schools," the resident said. Scheman responded: "One of the reasons we took a careful look at everything the University does in this area [before the project was announced]? was because we wanted to make sure it's always more and never less." The resolution also addresses the new school's impact on the existing site. Currently, three institutions -- the University City New School, the Parent Infant Center and a private daycare center -- are located in the area. The institutions, according to the resident, are afraid of "the prospect of finding themselves homeless or in an inferior space." The resolution, if adopted by both the UCCC and the University -- which was not formally invited to tonight's meeting -- asks that such a displacement not occur. The "catchment" area from which students will be allowed to attend the school, another concern for local residents, is one that Scheman says is not in her hands. The boundaries will be decided by the school district. The UCCC meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Crusaders for Christ Church at 47th Street and Kingsessing Avenue.