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SRC delays handing over 3 schools to charter operators

In the face of the Philadelphia School District's fiscal uncertainty, the School Reform Commission on Wednesday night postponed moving forward with plans to turn over three low-performing district schools to charter operators.

In the face of the Philadelphia School District's fiscal uncertainty, the School Reform Commission on Wednesday night postponed moving forward with plans to turn over three low-performing district schools to charter operators.

The commission also renewed the operating agreements for five charter schools because they had agreed to forgo their requests to add students for the 2013-14 academic year.

"We have asked everyone to share the sacrifices," said Paul Kihn, deputy superintendent.

He said that if all the expansion requests sought by the 16 charters up for renewal this spring had been approved, they would have cost the district $25 million more in the first year and $225 million over the next five years.

The charter schools granted five-year renewals Wednesday night were the Architecture and Design Charter High School in Center City; Hardy Williams Academy Charter School in West Philadelphia; Pan American Charter School in eastern North Philadelphia; Mathematics, Civics and Science Charter School on North Broad Street near Spring Garden Street; and Young Scholars Charter School in North Philadelphia.

The actions came as the district scrambles to fill a $304 million shortfall by July 1 to avert the announced layoffs of 3,783 employees at schools and 76 at the district's headquarters and regional offices.

Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. has asked for $60 million more from the city and $120 million from the state. He also is asking for $133 million from the unions, mostly from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

The draft of the SRC's agenda called for it to take the final steps in giving three low-performing elementary schools to charter operators to lead academic turnarounds as part of the district's Renaissance Schools initiative.

Pastorius in East Germantown would go to Mastery Charter Schools; Kenderton in Tioga to Scholar Academies; and Alcorn in Grays Ferry to Universal Cos.

SRC Chairman Pedro Ramos said the commission had decided to put the fourth year of the Renaissance charter program on hold until the district's financial crisis has been resolved.

"We will ask for the SRC to take action on these once we have a clearer picture of our revenues," he said.

A contingent of parents and proponents of Mastery's takeover of Pastorius urged the SRC to move forward and sign the agreements so that the academic turnaround could begin.

Parents, students, and staff continued to appeal to the commission to reverse budget cuts, restore music programs, and halt the layoffs of music teachers, counselors, and other staff.

Harry Levant, president of the home and school association at the High School for Creative and Performing Arts, said he found it ironic that earlier in the meeting, commission members had applauded after a performance by student-musicians when the commission's actions would result in destroying the programs where the students learned to play their instruments.

He also decried cuts of teachers from every arts program at CAPA, including laying off the instrumental teacher.

"This is designed to destroy the fabric of our school," Levant said.