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The Philadelphia School District unveiled changes to the final version of its facilities master plan recommendations at Thursday’s school board meeting, now proposing to close 18 schools across the city instead of 20.
Changes to the proposal
Most notably, Russell Conwell Middle School and Motivation High School were removed from the closure recommendations after receiving outspoken support from families to stay open.
Under Superintendent Tony B. Watlington’s original plan, Conwell would have merged with Alternative Middle Years, or AMY, at James Martin. The two schools are about a mile and a half apart — nearly a 40-minute walk — a commute families raised concerns about.
By instead using Elkin Elementary School as a feeder for Conwell, the district can boost enrollment while keeping students within walking distance of school, Watlington said.
Motivation will merge with Paul Robeson High School, becoming “Motivation-Robeson,” and will continue to operate at the Motivation site.
The building infrastructure at Motivation is “significantly better” than Robeson’s, according to Watlington. He said community feedback found that families were open to closing Robeson if a better option was presented.
“With Motivation High School, there’s adequate space … and the building infrastructure is appropriate for us to do that,” Watlington said.
While Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School is still recommended to close, students will merge with W. B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences. The new choice aligns better with the offerings Lankenau could provide, according to the district.
“The environmental theme at Lankenau can fit nicely with the W.B. Saul agricultural campus,” Watlington said. “There are some connections with regard to the curriculum.”
One of Lankenau’s most distinctive features is its location on 400 wooded acres next to the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.
Unlike the more urban Roxborough High School — where Lankenau was originally slated to merge — W.B. Saul offers the largest agricultural program in the country on a 150-acre working farm that sits directly beside Fairmount Park.