No Additional Philly Public Schools Set For Closure Before June 2015
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The School District of Philadelphia is recommending no additional permanent school closures at the end of this academic year.
After watching the district close 32 school buildings over the last two years (see related story), school advocates were bracing for even more after this school year. But today, schools superintendent William Hite says he's not planning any.
"The district is not recommending any school closures for the upcoming school year," Hite announced.
He says his decision was driven more by academics than by finances. He says that in many cases students who were displaced last year went to poorer-performing schools.
"This decision was more of making sure that whenever we move students, we are providing a better option for those students," Hite said.
He says the focus now is to improve the neighborhood schools that remain open.