Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
The Philadelphia School District will soon offer a new way to have a say in how Philadelphia school closings, mergers, and other transitions happen. <\/p>\n
The district announced Thursday that it will soon open applications for 50 transition teams to help manage what comes next for a host of schools \u2014 those closing or beginning phaseouts at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and those receiving students from those schools in 2027-28.<\/p>\n
The school board voted in April to close 17 Philadelphia schools<\/a>, some as soon as the end of the 2026-27 school year. It\u2019s also ordering mergers and other changes. The $3 billion plan, the funding for which is not assured, also plans for 169 renovation projects at schools around the city.<\/p>\n The plan remains unpopular, with several City Council members still pressuring the district to change course on some closures<\/a>.<\/p>\n The aim for the transition committees, officials said, it to \u201cbring together students, families, educators, staff, and community partners to provide input, help identify priorities, and support the development of transition plans that reflect the needs of each school community.\u201d<\/p>\n A new school transition office, led by Shakeera Warthen-Canty<\/a>, will coordinate the work.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that successful school transitions require more than a plan \u2014 they require meaningful partnership with the students, families, staff, and communities who will experience these changes,\u201d Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said in a statement. \u201cThis next phase gives communities a clear opportunity to help shape the transition process and ensure that we are planning thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with students at the center.\u201d <\/p>\n The applications will open Aug. 31 and can be filled out through Sept. 18.<\/p>\n Transition committees, made up of up to roughly 20 members, may include teachers and staff, parents and families, community members, and students.<\/p>\n Officials said the committees won\u2019t be the only way for people to have their say. School-specific feedback opportunities will be announced later, they said.<\/p>\n Which 50 schools are forming transition teams?<\/p>\n The schools closing in 2027-28 are:<\/p>\n Blankenburg <\/p>\n Fitler<\/p>\n Lankenau High School<\/p>\n Robert Morris<\/p>\n