The University held a forum for area residents to voice their concerns over plans for a Penn-aided public school. Though they may share a community, on some issues, the University and the residents of West Philadelphia appear to be worlds apart. On June 18, Penn announced that it would enter into a partnership with both the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers to establish a University-assisted public school just off-campus, at 42nd and Spruce streets. Under the terms of the plan, Penn will contribute $1,000 per student per year -- or approximately $700,000 annually -- while the district would foot the bill for constructing the new school. With the University administration still glowing in the euphoria of the announcement, the plan met with feelings of support and general affinity from most casual observers of the University and its surrounding area. But, for local parents, community members and Penn faculty residing in the area, the statement was greeted with more cautious optimism and restraint. And the questions and concerns of these individuals became the subject of an open forum held on campus last Wednesday. A memorandum outlining the agreement was distributed prior to the meeting. Over two hundred people gathered in the Faculty Club's Alumni Hall to discuss the announcement. The moderators of the discussion included Stephen Schutt, chief of staff for University President Judith Rodin, and Carol Scheman, Penn's vice president for government, community, and public affairs. Graduate School of Education Dean Susan Fuhrman and Urban Studies Professor Ira Harkavy, director of the Center for Community Partnerships, were also on hand to represent Penn. In addition to the development of a public school, Penn -- at the school district's request -- has agreed to relocate the existing Carver High School for Engineering and Science from its current overcrowded site at 17th and Norris streets to a new location at 38th and Market streets. The plan also calls for the University to become "a lead partner" in two West Philadelphia Resource Cluster Boards. Fuhrman is slated to be the primary chair of the West Philadelphia board, while Harkavy will assume the same role on the University City board. Scheman opened the forum by informing community members that they were only at "the beginning of a process," as community involvement in the planning of the new school would continue past the initial meeting. When the floor was turned over to the overflowing and anxious crowd of community residents, the questions and concerns raised proved wide-ranging and thought-provoking. Pat Mitchell -- a resident, parent and local educator -- posed the question as to "what kinds of criteria [students would need] to meet" in order to be eligible for the proposed school. Scheman responded that the new school -- scheduled to open in the fall of 2001 -- would be an "open enrollment school," meaning that students would only have to live within a "catchment area" to be determined by the School District. Philadelphia Superintendent of Schools David Hornbeck estimated last month that the school's students would be drawn from the area bounded by 40th, 49th and Market streets and Baltimore Avenue, though no definite markers have been set. Joel Steiker, a parent and local resident, expressed his concern that the proposed plan "could wipe out the Powel School" at 36th Street and Powelton Avenue, where certain enrollment requirements have to be met for continued government funding. Steiker added that the new school could draw away enough students -- who go to Powel as part of the city's plan to racially integrate the school --so as to threaten Powel's funding. Schutt responded that "questions on desegregation status will be discussed with [the community] and the District." The selection of a principal and faculty for the new school were also of high concern to those at the meeting. Marci Morgan, a GSE graduate and teacher at the Wilson School at 46th Street and Woodland Avenue, inquired about the process by which faculty members would be selected for the new school. Fuhrman said that because the new school will be a "demonstration school," it will be exempt from the hiring requirements of the teacher's contract with the school district. Under the current PFT contract, teachers are allowed to choose their school assignments based on their seniority within the system. Fuhrman noted that the exemption creates "a degree of autonomy" in picking staff, which will allow parents -- as well as Penn and the School District -- to have influence in the selection of faculty. Schutt added that as a demonstration school, the new elementary school will be "locally governed? with parents, teachers, and Penn having control over hiring, budgeting, curriculum, and staff." Amy Johnson, a local community leader, brought up the issue of principal selection. Earlier in the meeting, Schutt had commented that the principal would "be picked by the [School] District and Penn," which caused some grumbling among parents who had anticipated more involvement in the process. Johnson said that it seemed as if the "community was cut out really fast" from the selection process. Fuhrman noted that the decision on a principal would be a committee decision and that parents would have a role in the process as well. Legal Studies Professor Eric Orts, an area resident and father of a one-year-old boy, also took interest in the administrative planning for the school. While noting that he was "cautiously optimistic about the proposal," Orts remarked that "the agreement? contemplates an innovative legal entity to govern the school with representatives of various constituents, including Penn, public school teachers, and parents." He went on to say that "if the governance of the school enables parents and local residents to develop a strong sense of ownership, this experiment? may prove a success." Many parents at the meeting were concerned with the possible effects of the agreement upon existing commitments and programs for public schools in the surrounding area. English Professor Al Filreis, an area resident and father of two children, was quick to note that many programming commitments to local schools are "autonomous and independent programs." He emphasized that these types of endeavors are often run independently by students and faculty, and not directly controlled by the University administration. The University currently contributes personnel and funds to programs at several area schools, including University City and West Philadelphia High Schools; Shaw, Turner and Sulzberger Middle Schools; and Wilson Elementary School. Programs now in place include career mentoring, conflict resolution seminars, summer and evening programs and student teaching initiatives run by GSE. "[Existing] programs won't be abandoned because of the new school," Filreis said. Calling the overall proposal "ambitious and energetic," Filreis added that he and his wife would consider the new school as an educational option for their young daughter, a student at the Penn Children's Center. Many of those in attendance expressed a level of frustration with the University administration, specifically with regards to a lack of communication. Some pointed to the fact that they did not learn about the agreement between Penn, the city and the teachers union until newspaper headlines appeared three weeks ago. Mary Hill, a member of the Spruce Hill Education Committee, pointed to "a history of miscommunication" between the surrounding community and the administration. "We are not going to bite your head off? unless you ignore us," she said. "And then we will go after you." Schutt said he hoped that the forum would serve as the "start of a long-running dialogue? of asking questions and answering them." He indicated that an e-mail account and post office box would be set up to field questions and comments from area residents. "We look forward to working with the community to ensure that these opportunities are realized in ways that provide maximum benefits for all concerned," Schutt said.
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