Philly school board to vote on whether the district should explore transferring vacant buildings to the city

Lisa Haver, retired teacher and a founder of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools, asks the board: "Does this board have the authority to just give away real estate? That would be an abdication of the board's responsibility of this district."

The board is supposed to operate independently, not as an intergovernmental board, Haver said.

Haver says: Essentially, it sounds like the mayor wants the district to give her buildings, and the board is playing ball.

Angela Case, a member of the West Oak Lane Charter School community, asks the board to allow the school to buy the Ada Lewis Middle School building.

"Our school is growing, but our current space is limited," Case said. "Ada Lewis would give our students safe classrooms, outdoor areas," and more. It would also mean a positive use of a vacant property, Case said. "This is an investment in our children, families and a better future for Philadelphia."

Anne Dorn, a district parent, is talking about issues with curriculum shared between the district and the Catholic church.

"Fear not" the elephants in the room, Dorn said.

Daniel Wideman, a parent and board member at West Oak Lane Charter School, is praising the school, which has changed his and his child's lives.

"As a community, we have grown out of our building at West Oak Lane, and we need change," Wideman said. The charter would like to buy Ada Lewis Middle School.

» READ MORE: Discovery of Kada Scott’s body at Germantown middle school has reignited debate over the vacant building

Sashai Rivers, a parent of two children at Kenderton Elementary, said her son was bullied and antagonized by students and staff. She removed her kids from the school, but said her child's IEP was ignored. "I'm currently being ignored by all parties at the school district," Rivers said.

Rivers said she is suing the district.

Lynda Rubin, a retired district educator, is tying billionaire Jeff Yass and others to actions against district educators and Keziah Ridgeway and Ismael Jimenez.

Elijah Mahaffey, a former student at George Washington High, said he was bullied at the school. "Nobody would help me," he said.

Deanna Lewis, of Lab Charter, is drawing attention to Black-led and Black-founded charter schools. Lab recently got a $500,000+ grant to bring computers to the community. "We're deeply committed to our academic mission, and to support our community with care," Lewis said.

We're onto speakers now.

Cecelia Thompson, a former school board member, wants to know what provisions will be made for students with special needs in school closing decisions.

And when it comes to possibly transferring closed schools to the city, she asks: Can we sell them to the city "for market value, and not $1? Just to be respectful, I guess, for the worth of the properties?"

Of note: One piece of written testimony submitted today concerns the closed Ada Lewis Middle School, likely to be considered in any list of vacant schools transferred to the city. A member of the West Oak Lane Charter School community suggests the Ada Lewis building be sold to West Oak Lane Charter.

» READ MORE: Discovery of Kada Scott’s body at Germantown middle school has reignited debate over the vacant building

Eight board members are present at today's meeting. Joyce Wilkerson is absent.

The board discussed developments in the People for People and KIPP North Philadelphia vs. Joyce Wilkerson case in executive session today, Streater said, as well as real estate matters one can assume are related to the special action item.

» READ MORE: A Philly judge’s ruling in a charter case has called into question Joyce Wilkerson’s seat on the school board

Board president Reginald Streater is outfitted in kelly green, and notes that he still has faith in the Eagles.

The only item on the agenda: a resolution authorizing Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. and the district's legal team to discuss possibly transferring about 20 vacant district buildings to the city.

The Philadelphia school board is set to host a special action meeting — its last scheduled meeting of the year — starting at 4 p.m.

At the meeting, the board is set to discuss and vote on a resolution authorizing Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. to explore transferring vacant, unused school buildings to the city.

Following the special action meeting, the board will hold its regularly scheduled Goals and Guardrails meeting, during which Watlington will share end-of-year Keystone and NOCTI performance for 2024-25.