The doors of the new Penn-assisted public school at 42nd and Locust streets will open next week, a milestone in an arduous process that formally began more than three years ago.
Considered by some to be a national model for urban education, the school had been mired in controversies involving which children could attend and fears that this demonstration school would siphon much-needed funds away from other public schools.
But for many, those worries have been replaced by anticipation of a school that is the result of an unparalleled partnership between Penn, the Philadelphia School District and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Classes begin for first-graders on Sept. 6, and for kindergartners a week later.
"I'm real excited because this is different," guidance counselor Theresa Knight said."You get to start fresh with new ideas. That's exciting."
Many of the school's nine teachers, hoping to escape the rigidity of other institutions, are looking forward to a team atmosphere.
"In schools I had taught at before, there were small pockets of teachers that worked together, and then you went in and closed your door and did what you did," said kindergarten teacher Amanda Collins. "Here, we're already in each other's room every five minutes asking, `What are you doing about this?'"
What will likely make the staff even closer this year is their small temporary home in the former Philadelphia Divinity School building, which has undergone minor modifications since the University City New School vacated the facility in June.
Next fall, the school will move to a large new building on the same site, allowing it to operate with a full roster of 700 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
But even in their present, modest surroundings, the teachers cannot conceal their enthusiasm.
"I can't wait -- I'm really excited to meet all of them," said art teacher Erica Mor‚, whose classroom walls are already covered with ethnic artwork meant to inspire her students. The class will be one-third white, African American and Asian American.
Nearly all of the students and their parents took advantage of a meet-the-teacher session Monday night. All parties said it was a success.
"It went from what is normally a tense period before kindergarten starts to a wonderful, wonderful experience where she can't wait until the first day of school," Howard Neukrug said of his daughter, who will be attending kindergarten at the school. "It's so clear that everyone wants this to be a great school, and to me that's what makes a great school."
Yesterday, school planning coordinator Ann Kreidle said that 90 percent of the available slots were filled, and that she was fielding nearly 30 phone calls a day from interested parents.
But only those in the school's catchment area -- which stretches roughly from Sansom Street to Woodland Avenue, and from 40th to 47th streets --ÿare eligible to attend.
"We get a lot of... people that don't understand the boundaries," Kreidle said.
For those who are able to enroll, smaller-than-typical class sizes -- 17 students per kindergarten class, and 23 students per first-grade class -- are a result of Penn's annual operating subsidy of $1,000 per student. Penn believes that its contributions in money and resources will improve the neighborhoods adjacent to campus.
These funds will also help the school to be "one of the most technologically-rich elementary schools in the whole city," according to computer teacher Nancy Matlack. However, the computers will not arrive for several weeks.
Even so, Principal Sheila Sydnor believes that the staff is ready to make its mark on the community.
"We could basically open Monday -- we could open tomorrow if we had to," Sydnor said earlier this week. "That's the goal."
