U. City New School searching for funds

It's any fourth-grader's dream come true -- no school. And unless the University City New School can come up with the funds to pay for air-conditioning and sprinklers, students just might get their way. The city zoning board informed the New School last week that the occupancy permit for the school's new home at 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue requires the installation of air conditioning and sprinklers -- which could cost $100,000. "I feel sure we will be fine between the money we raise and the parts of the construction we can put off until a later date," New School Principal Betty Ratay said. The New School will move to its new location at the end of June. Construction for the Penn-assisted public school has displaced the New School, which currently sits at 42nd and Spruce streets. Along with pledging $5,000 to the cause, Peter Sterling, founding parent advisor to the New School board, appealed to parents, alumni and members of the community for monetary pledges. "I feel confident we can raise the money," Sterling said. "It is not $1 million, and my contribution is already 5 percent." Since most parents of current students are young and just beginning to form families, Sterling has also sent out a plea to University President Judith Rodin, Provost Robert Barchi, faculty members who live in West Philadelphia and surrounding business owners. A "Footsteps Campaign," which aims to raise half the revenue, has also been established so that parents and staff members can contribute in small increments. Each of the 2,000 feet between the school's current location on 42nd and Spruce and its future location -- the ground floor of the Calvary Church on 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue -- is being sold for $25 apiece. When asked how much has been raised since his initial plea a week ago, Sterling chuckled and said,"We have a lot left to raise." According to Ratay, the New School has raised about one-fifth of the necessary funds. Sterling added, "We must go forward, and we must have this settled as soon as possible." The future is uncertain for the New School's 90 students as well as its 20 staff members. "These funds must be raised immediately so that the whole deal can proceed and building can start," Sterling wrote in his e-mail plea to possible donors. "If not, parents will soon be forced to look for other schools." "I have a pretty positive feeling about [raising the money]," New School Director of Admissions Elene Kavitsky said. "But I can't say for sure it will happen," Though delays have plagued the construction of the Penn-assisted public school, the New School will vacate its current facilities on June 30, regardless of whether the money is raised. "We have to be out," Sterling said. Construction of the Penn-assisted public school has also led to the relocation of the Penn Children's Center and the independently owned Parent Infant Center.