Philadelphia Councilmembers, State Reps Urge Board to Vote Down Plan to Close 17 Schools
The 10-year plan modernizes 169 campuses and redirects $1.1 billion from district resources as officials cite 70,000 empty seats.
- On Thursday, April 30, 2026, the Philadelphia Board of Education voted 6-3 to approve Superintendent Tony Watlington's $3 billion facilities plan, modernizing 169 campuses while closing 17 schools.
- Declining enrollment left the district with 70,000 empty seats, prompting officials to pursue the plan as necessary to address long-standing financial and infrastructure challenges.
- City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas led contentious protests that disrupted Thursday's meeting, forcing organizers to shift to virtual format after council members threatened "lawsuits and injunctions."
- The school district announced implementation begins immediately, though each impacted school community receives a full planning year before changes affecting students or staff occur in the 2027-28 school year.
- To help close a $300 million budget deficit, Mayor Cherelle Parker proposed a $1-per-ride fee on city rideshare services, a measure projected to raise $50 million annually for schools.
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School closure plan approved; EV chargers coming; Broad Street Run guide
#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY Behind the scenes at the Fillmore(Photo by @jrwvk) School board approves facility plan, allowing the district to close 17 schools Despite protests, meeting disruptions and threats from most of Philadelphia City Council to block the vote, the city’s Board of Education voted 6-3 to approve the district’s controversial plan to close 17 schools.Approval of the $3 billion plan to close 17 schools and modernize 169 others cam…
School board approves plan to close 17 schools despite strong opposition from City Council and communities
The Board of Education voted to approve the School District of Philadelphia’s 10-year, $3 billion facilities plan that includes closing 17 schools, modernizing 169 buildings and co-locating six others.
City Council members threaten to shut down vote on facilities plan that would close 17 Philly schools
In an extraordinary muscle flex, 10 City Council members threatened a broad range of actions, from lawsuits and injunctions to civil disobedience and blocking reappointments of school board members.
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