Still no construction on U.-assisted school

Despite a scheduled opening that is rapidly approaching, there is still no groundbreaking date set for construction of the controversial Penn-assisted public school in West Philadelphia. Planners said earlier this semester that construction would start in late October or early November in order to facilitate the school's scheduled partial opening next fall at 42nd and Spruce streets. But without a specific date set, and with a construction schedule that is already very tight, whether the school will actually open on time for anyone remains in doubt. However, University Vice President Steve Schutt, Penn's pointman on the school project, said the lack of a building date is nothing to worry about. "We still expect a partial opening next fall," he said in an e-mail, referring to plans to open only the kindergarten and first-grade sections of the school next year. Under that plan -- which became necessary after delays in determining who would be able to attend the school pushed back the original March 2000 groundbreaking date -- the other classes in the pre-K-8 school would be phased in as the construction progressed. Schutt added that planners may announce an expected groundbreaking date as early as this week, but would not provide any further details on the project's status. The plan to build the Penn-assisted school has been mired in controversy ever since the summer of 1998, when the University and the Philadelphia Board of Education first announced it. Penn has agreed to give $700,000 -- $1,000 per student -- for 10 years to the new school. The University will also provide technological and teaching support from its Graduate School of Education and is providing the land. The school board is paying for the actual construction costs. The original plan called for groundbreaking last March, but that date came and went without the arrival of construction crews. Area residents at the time were engaged in a debate over the school's catchment area -- the geographic zone that defines who will be allowed to attend. Also, many objected to the new school itself, saying Penn should instead give more support to existing local schools. The school board's final decision this summer included a diverse catchment area that spans most of the Spruce Hill neighborhood southwest of Penn's campus, in addition to $1.5 million in aid for the Lea School, located at 47th and Locust streets. Meanwhile, the three institutions that currently occupy the block at 42nd and Spruce streets are proceeding with plans to move to new locations. The Penn Children's Center, a child-care facility owned and operated by the University, will find a new home at the Left Bank, a new apartment complex opening in 2001 at 32nd and Walnut streets. The University City New School, which has occupied the site for 23 years, will also be forced to move once construction begins. Schutt said UCNS "expects to vacate the site in January." However, the Parent Infant Center, an independent child-care facility, will remain on the block -- occupying one of the site's existing buildings.

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