Hite stands firm on closures plan, but hints at possible changes
by Bill Hangley, Jr.
The last of the Philadelphia District’s school-closure meetings wrapped up quietly at Northeast High Wednesday night, where District officials made plain once again their intention to stay the course on a plan to close or relocate 44 schools by September.
School Reform Commission member Feather Houstoun told the audience that despite a recent City Council votein favor of a one-year moratorium on closings, her support for the plan hasn’t wavered.
“At this juncture I would not vote for a moratorium,” said Houstoun to a smattering of boos. “I have heard nothing that suggests that [it] would change the outcome significantly a year from now. I have had people say to me they need more time to plan the closures. And I think the planning of the closures, the content of that, happens when the decision has been made.”
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The last of the Philadelphia District’s school-closure meetings wrapped up quietly at Northeast High Wednesday night, where District officials made plain once again their intention to stay the course on a plan to close or relocate 44 schools by September.
School Reform Commission member Feather Houstoun told the audience that despite a recent City Council votein favor of a one-year moratorium on closings, her support for the plan hasn’t wavered.
“At this juncture I would not vote for a moratorium,” said Houstoun to a smattering of boos. “I have heard nothing that suggests that [it] would change the outcome significantly a year from now. I have had people say to me they need more time to plan the closures. And I think the planning of the closures, the content of that, happens when the decision has been made.”
read more