Catchment area key to public school plan

The "catchment" area, the zone from which students will be allowed to attend the school, is probably the most controversial facet of the pre-K-8 project, which Penn will partially finance and help run through the Graduate School of Education. The decision is ultimately up to Philadelphia School Superintendent David Hornbeck, and is expected this fall. The University announced in June 1998 that it would give its financial and curricular support to the proposed school. Officials pledged $700,000 a year for 10 years, or $1,000 per student each year. The pre-K-8 school is slated for construction on the 4200 block of Spruce Street at a University-owned site currently occupied by the University City New School -- a private school whose future will be in question once the new school opens -- the Parent Infant Center and the Penn Children's Center. According to Schutt, the University City New School and the Parent Infant Center will remain at the present site during the construction phase of the project. Penn has promised to help the organizations relocate once the school opens. The catchment area has been a particularly thorny concern because so many parents and homeowners -- whose houses stand to become considerably more valuable if inside the catchment area -- will stand to gain or lose depending on the school's boundaries. Local area committees, in particular the University City Community Council -- comprised of representatives from University City's six neighborhood groups -- have held numerous meetings to discuss that and other issues concerning the as-yet unnamed school. However, since any further developments remain on hold until the catchment area question is resolved, recent reactions from the community have been muted. "I think right now that things are in a sort of holding pattern because the committees haven't met since July," said Spruce Hill Community Association Zoning Committee Chairperson Barry Grossbach, who said that the community will likely convene a meeting as soon as Hornbeck makes an announcement. Construction has not yet begun at the proposed site, which is officially scheduled to open its doors in September 2001. Schutt said the design of the building is still in the preliminary stages. Grossbach said community approval of the design plans would not be made until after the announcement of the catchment area. "There is still a great deal of work to be done before plans will be finalized, but great progress is being made," Schutt said. Aside from the University's financial support, a Pew Charitable Trusts grant will provide $325,000, while construction costs will be borne by the School District of Philadelphia.