Philadelphia teachers union offers $25 million plan to keep 17 schools open

The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers unveiled a counterproposal Wednesday that it says would spare all 17 public schools the School District of Philadelphia intends to shut, beginning with roughly $25 million in spending during the first year.

Union leaders introduced the proposal, called the Facilities Action Plan, at a news conference at their headquarters. WHYY reported that it is meant as an alternative to the district's facilities master plan, which the school board, whose members are appointed by the mayor, adopted in April despite objections from parents, staff and several City Council members.

NBC10 reported that the union believes the work can be funded with dollars the city and state have already given the district, with no new borrowing or midyear budget action. "The money is there," union President Arthur Steinberg said, according to NBC10.

WHYY and NBC10 reported that the plan ranks the most urgent repairs at each of the 17 buildings, estimates their cost, and projects that every one could be in "good" condition by 2031 if funding continues each year. According to The Inquirer, the union also wants maintenance and cleaning workers reorganized into quick-response crews, saying a typical district work order currently takes 62 days.

The outlets cited differing numbers for repair needs at the affected buildings. WHYY and The Inquirer reported a district estimate of $548 million, while a district statement published by NBC10 listed roughly $298 million. The Inquirer described the union as having 13,000 members; NBC10 said it represents close to 15,000 educators.

The proposal covers only the schools set to close for now, with a follow-up report on remaining buildings promised before year's end, WHYY and The Inquirer reported. The Inquirer said union leaders also question the district's estimate of 70,000 vacant seats across the city.

In its response, the district said the union's approach might fix some short-term problems but fails to deal with shrinking enrollment, old and underused facilities, and unequal opportunities for students. The district said its own $3 billion plan would upgrade 169 campuses if it receives full funding.

Union members called on Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to step in. Faris Carter, who teaches English at Parkway Northwest High School, one of the closing schools, challenged the decision. "How can the district acknowledge a community's vulnerability and then make a decision that threatens its stability?" she said, according to WHYY.

Parker told City Council in April that some closures are needed, The Inquirer noted. The Inquirer reported that 10 of the schools will shut after the 2026-27 academic year and the other seven will be phased out, some not until 2031. WHYY reported that Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier, Rue Landau and Nina Ahmad attended without speaking. Steinberg said the union planned to bring its proposal to the school board on Thursday.

Compiled by True News from reporting by WHYY, The Philadelphia Inquirer and NBC10 Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/978