Philadelphia superintendent identifies schools he intends to close

Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. will have over 37 schools shut down but June 2013. The biggest reduction in the school districts history.

The results of the school closings are insane: 17,000 students and 2,000 staffers would be affected. This would save the district $28 million. Overall, 22 elementary, 4 middle, and 11 high schools throughout Philadelphia.

Hite said that the jobs lost will depend on the positions. Teachers won't be affected as much but staff and principals are at great risk since one school doesn't need an extra teacher or a few more staff.

Hite vowed that the district would invest heavily in programs and safety to help the remaining 200 schools thrive.

One reason the district decided to close the 37 schools because they had to borrow $300 million to pay bills and paychecks.The $28 million would go to the fused schools and school programs.

They also say that some schools are under-enrolled like Shaw Middle School in Southwest Philadelphia has room for 1,071 students, however they currently have 193 students.

Hite also commented that the district was failing academically with 82% missing the mark in math or reading and 68% failed in both."Those data are simply unacceptable and the closings would repair," Hite said.

Hite then said "believes very strongly that our public-school system is an institution worth saving".

Statistics show that over the last decade over 50,000 students were lost, mostly to charter schools. "Mainly the superintendents decided to kick and kick the can and let the next person deal with it."

The district has a reuse plan to replace the grade within the schools. The changes would be K-6 becoming K-4, 5-6 to K-8.

Vaux a high school would open as elementary school for the students of Meade and Reynolds school. Some schools would trade schools like Abigail Vare Elementary would move to George Washington Elementary.

In conclusion I think this is just a lie to gain more money for the district. They don't care about the students welfare there more concerned about how they would pay off debts instead of the academically success of students. I can't stand the stuff that happens in Philly especially when comes to education.