Schools along parade route will close

With a blockbuster event expected to draw at least a million people in the city today, school superintendents and principals have a dilemma - do they cancel classes in honor of the Phillies or proceed with lessons and Halloween parties as planned?

The Philadelphia School District will close several schools along the parade route in South Philadelphia, but most districts in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey suburbs will keep schools open. Officials acknowledge that plenty of desks will be empty.

A few schools - mostly private and charter - will also close.

Philadelphia district spokeswoman Cecilia Cummings said the schools that would close - including South Philadelphia High on South Broad Street - all were on or near the parade route. The rest of the district's 270 schools will be open. Students who attend the parade, even with a note from a parent, will have an unexcused absence added to their records.

"Given the massive crowds expected downtown, we couldn't guarantee the safe transportation of students at those schools," Cummings said.

Officials will not close other schools because doing so on such short notice would constitute a hardship for parents, she said.

Students whose schools close will have to make up an extra day at some point to ensure they meet the state requirement of 180 days of instruction, Cummings said.

In the Garnet Valley School District, officials will give students who attend the parade a pass, Superintendent Anthony Costello said. The high school altered its schedule so students will be finished with exams by 10:30 a.m. They can leave with a parent's note afterward.

"This is a historic event," said Costello, who grew up in the area. "Why have them lie if it's our job to account for where they are? I'd rather just have people tell the truth."

At the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, classes will be held but athletic events were canceled. Officials said opposing teams would have too difficult a time navigating city streets today.

"We know that many of our students are ardent Phillies fans, and we recognize that this is a singular moment in their lives and the life of the city of Philadelphia," Darryl J. Ford, head of school at Penn Charter, wrote to parents yesterday.

But there was no such luck for Catholic-school students hoping for a day off. Mary Rochford, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, rooted for the team but won't give students a pass.

"Although schools will celebrate this event in their own individual ways, it will be within the context of a regular school day," Rochford said in a statement.

In Haddonfield, high school principal Michael Wilson said in a letter that he anticipated many absences and early dismissals.

He reminded parents that students without excuse notes would be considered truant, and that those who wanted to participate in extracurricular activities must attend school for at least four hours.

He said he had to balance his duties as principal with students' excitement and enthusiasm.

"If they do choose to attend the parade, I hope they have a wonderful time and many memories," Wilson said in the letter. "I remember my days of the Flyers, Phillies and Sixers when I was a teenager."

Some Catholic schools outside the archdiocese will be closed for teacher planning or in honor of All Saints Day, which is tomorrow.

But others will cancel classes on short notice. Paul VI High School in Haddon Township is one.

Other schools are taking a hard line.

"It will be considered an unexcused absence if students are not in school and attend the parade," said Mary Moyer, a spokeswoman for the Delsea Regional School District.

For some charter and private schools, especially those in Center City or South Philadelphia near the parade route or stadium, closing is a necessity.

Jurate Kroyks chief executive of Independence Charter School at 16th and Lombard Streets, told parents in a letter that school would be canceled today because of street closures, traffic and safety issues.

"We realize that for any number of you that this will cause an inconvenience," Kroyks wrote. "However, we cannot imagine how we will be able to get our drivers, walkers (SEPTA included) and our nine yellow school buses for arrival or dismissal tomorrow."

The Philadelphia School, at 25th and Lombard Streets, had already planned early dismissal for today. But faced with the realities of the parade, officials opted to move dismissal up two hours, to 11 a.m.

In the Lower Merion School District, officials hoped to lure students with Phillies-theme celebrations. Students at Penn Valley Elementary School can wear Phillies gear for the Halloween parade, and hot dogs and pretzels will be served, district spokesman Doug Young said. Similar ballpark food will be offered in the high school cafeterias, Young said.

Even one local college has caught Phillies spirit. Harcum College in Bryn Mawr canceled classes in honor of the Fightin's and their victory.

"It's a gesture that allows people to express their admiration for what the Phils have accomplished," spokesman Andy Back said.

Though most Philadelphia public schools will be open today, these near or along the parade route will close:

South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St.

Creative and Performing Arts High School, 901 S. Broad St.

Norris Barratt Middle School, 1599 Wharton St.

A.S. Jenks Elementary, 2501 S. 13th St.

E.M. Stanton Elementary, 901 S. 17th St.

Bregy Elementary, 1700 Bigler St.

George Childs Elementary, 1541 S. 17th St.

Andrew Jackson Elementary, 1213 S. 12th St.

Academy at Palumbo High School, 11th and Catharine Streets.

Fell Elementary, 900 W. Oregon Ave.

Ellsworth Center at St. Rita's, 1400 Ellsworth St.

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