Letters to the Editor | May 5, 2026

The Philadelphia school board voted to close 17 schools in the city. I believe we need to look at this decision in the context of our times.

First, the former Republican Commonwealth Court Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer ruled that the disparity in funding for public education in Pennsylvania is unconstitutional.

Then, there is the fact that there have been literally billions of dollars spent on new construction in Philadelphia in recent years.

We also need to consider that 75% of the student body of Philadelphia schools is either Black or Latino.

So, even though Cherelle L. Parker is the first Black woman to serve as the mayor of Philadelphia, the closure of 17 schools in the city reflects a continuing pattern in this country — institutionalized racial discrimination continues to be a routine fact of life.

Steven Halpern, Philadelphia

I saw Councilmember Isaiah Thomas’ comments after the Philadelphia school board on Thursday night chose to give away 17 schools to enrich real estate developers. Thomas said City Council will move to ask for the resignations of board members who voted for the plan, yet the issues with the board are deeper than that. The system is flawed. Because board members are appointed by the mayor, their impartiality may legitimately be called into question. To really fix the school board, City Council should work on making the board elected rather than appointed in order to create more accountability with voters. It’s a move that’s long overdue. City Council must act now to overhaul this faulty and failing body.

Jayson Massey, Philadelphia

I was recently doing some research on Black congressional representation. Congress didn’t even have as many as five Black congressmen serving simultaneously until 1963. I then went to the website of the Congressional Black Caucus, which listed 62 members — 57 representatives, four senators, and one nonvoting member, all Democrats. (Republican Sen. Tim Scott is not a member of the caucus.)

After learning about Wednesday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, I wonder how many members of the caucus will remain when the 120th Congress meets in January. If there was ever a time for all Americans to vote in November, this is it.

Paul L. Newman, Merion Station

King Charles III delivered a speech before Congress that was clear, concise, and tinged with just the right amount of humor. There was no vulgarity or condemnations of individuals or groups, and his main point was easily understood by all. He simply called for unity among NATO nations in support of Ukraine in its war with Russia. Those in attendance should take a good look at what was said and how it was delivered. It was a breath of fresh air in that chamber, and a speech worthy of a monarch.

Anthony Munafo, Flourtown

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