Phila. OKs funding for U.-aided school

Despite vociferous objections from several University City residents, the Philadelphia Board of Education yesterday approved funding for construction of the University supported pre-K-8 school. The board voted unanimously to approve $20 million in construction costs to build the Penn-supported school at the corner of 42nd and Spruce streets. "This is a resolution for us to continue the process that is a very long involved process to get a school built which will have ultimate value and benefit to the community," said University Director of Community Relations Glenn Bryan, one of several Penn administrators present for the vote. About a dozen local residents came to the meeting to protest the fact that the city was funding the school before a decision was made on what neighborhoods will fall inside the school's boundaries. The Philadelphia School District itself will not build the school but will cover its cost by "buying it" from the University, which has been overseeing the school's design and will supervise its construction -- expected to cost between $16.5 million and $20 million. Penn announced the project in June 1998 and will pay about $700,000 a year towards its operations. The Graduate School of Education will provide curricular and teacher assistance. Steve Schutt, the University's pointperson on the project, said he was pleased the proposal had passed, and that it clears the way for the University to break ground in March and have the school up and running in time for the 2001-2002 school year. Although yesterday's meeting was not intended to concern the contentious issue of who will get to attend the school, several representatives of local community associations raised objections on the grounds that that question has not yet been answered. City Council member Jannie Blackwell, who represents West Philadelphia, spoke to the board on behalf of her constituents. She asked the School District to reach a decision on the boundaries issue as soon as possible. In response, Board President Lloyd Alston said he is aware of the residents' concerns but that the purpose of the day's meeting was to approve the funding proposal, not to discuss the catchment area. The board voted immediately after each of the scheduled speakers had given their arguments, prompting an outburst from community members upset about the lack of discussion. "They didn't hear from all the people in the community," local resident Kirk Wattles said. "This was the key vote to approve the funding for [the school]. Now it's the sort of thing where nobody can say this has to stop." Wattles complained that the meeting itself had been arranged out of the public's eye and that he had not had the chance to register to speak. But the board disagreed. "I thought it unfortunate that there would be an effort to hold the whole project hostage while the catchment area was resolved," Board Vice President Pedro Ramos said. Ramos also denied that the meeting was not properly publicized. But even the dissenters were in favor of the school's overall mission to be an innovative way to educate students in Philadelphia's troubled school system -- they just want to be sure that the beneficiaries of the school will be fairly chosen. Both the University and local community associations have asked that the catchment area include those who are currently eligible to attend four existing schools in University City -- Drew, Lea, Powel and Wilson. Ramos said that he expects the School District to reach a decision next month.