U. renews contracts with W. Phila. schools

Last month, Penn received two three-year contract extensions to continue managing Henry C. Lea and Alexander Wilson schools, despite the Philadelphia School District's decision to seize six schools from outside managers.

"The decision was made on a case-by-case basis," Director of Philadelphia Public School's Accountability Office Michael Shlesinger said. "Certain schools that failed to make certain benchmarks lost their contracts."

In 2002, the city privatized 38 schools. Of those 38, 12 received three-year contracts, while 20 only received one-year contracts. Should the 20 schools under one-year commitments fail to make significant improvements they, too, will be turned over to district control at year's end.

"This is a chance for the schools to demonstrate improvement," Shlesinger said.

The city's large for-profit operator, Edison, will be returning four of the 20 schools they manage to the district, while only safely retaining four. Two of Edison's three schools returning for three years, Huey Samuel B and Anna H. Shaw Middle schools, receive assistance from the University through the Netter Center for Community Partnerships.

"I hope the University places even more emphasis on the work of Penn's Netter Center for Community Partnerships," Site Director for Shaw Philadelphia Freedom School and College senior Blanchard Diavua wrote, "and student service workers to continue the support the improvement of public schools."

Nse Umoh, a site coordinator for the Lea community school site, believes that Penn and West Philadelphia share a mutually beneficial relationship - one in which Penn students receive an education that extends far beyond the classroom while in return West Philadelphia students get mentors.

"As Penn students, we learn a lot about the community and working with children," Umoh said, "and students get someone they can talk with who's not a teacher or a parent."

Although Penn received three-year contract extensions at both of the schools under its management, and although both of the schools with student involvement through the Netter Center will remain privatized, the Philadelphia Public School system has no plans to expand on its partnership with the University, according to Shlesinger.

But Diavua said he believes that may be exactly what is needed.

"I sincerely hope Penn continues to work closely with the public schools in West Philadelphia." Diavua wrote. "During my work in the West Philadelphia schools I have seen the University and its students do great things for the community."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.