Phila. schools may get another day off before pope arrives

It looks like the Philadelphia School District's 129,000 students may get another day off in September, thanks to Pope Francis.

Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. has decided to ask the School Reform Commission to close schools on Sept. 24, spokesman Fernando Gallard said Thursday.

Schools already were scheduled to be closed Sept. 23 for Yom Kippur and Sept. 25 for the papal visit.

Gallard said Hite decided to seek the additional day off because of concerns about navigating parts of the city before the pope's scheduled arrival. He said parents and staff had expressed worries about access and transportation.

He said Hite would make his recommendation to the SRC at its Aug. 20 meeting.

Gallard said the additional day off would not lengthen the school year. He said the district would cancel a professional development session scheduled for Oct. 9 and hold school that day.

"The next question is Monday, Sept. 28," Gallard said.

The day is scheduled as a full day of classes, but Gallard said the district would remain in contact with the city to see whether plans should be altered.

Among other things, Gallard said, the district needs to make sure traffic barriers erected for the pope's visit will have been removed.

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