Hite, Hamels huddle: "a positive meeting"
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
Hite, Hamels huddle: "a positive meeting"
Kristen Graham
Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. met with Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels and others from the pitcher's foundation today, and officials proclaimed it "a very positive meeting."
The foundation started by Hamels and his wife Heidi has given hundreds of thousands to city public schools in recent years - money for playgrounds and libraries, audio equipment, gardens and other school improvements.
But a number of the schools the foundation donated to have landed on the list of 37 schools the district wants to close in June. Taylor Elementary in North Philadelphia, for instance, just got a $300,000 playground installed thanks to the foundation, and it could shut its doors forever at the end of the school year.
At the time the closings were announced, foundation officials said they were "shocked and dismayed," according to the Public School Notebook. They asked for a meeting with Hite and vowed to fight the closures.
But Hite proclaimed the Thursday meeting a good one, according to spokesman Fernando Gallard.
"The goal was to further strengthen the relationship between the district and the foundation," said Gallard. "We have to work together even closer now that the district is in a period of change - to make sure that the foundation's efforts are appropriately targeted. They walked out with a sense of recommitment."
Gallard said that the Hamels Foundation "will be a key player" in determining where the donated equipment would go if the School Reform Commission votes to close the schools. A vote is scheduled for March 7.
"The goal," Gallard said, "is to find a home for that equipment."
not to mention the 3.5 million in taxpayers money that went into computer technology at Fitzsimons that was given as a gift to the private entrepreneurs that run the Kipp schools. wasn't that nice of us taxpayers to make those charter school operators so rich by just giving them 3.5 million in equipment. our politicians are reverse Robin Hoods who take our money in taxes and give it to rich private citizens.- Just wait. They won't be able to sell those closed school buildings. They will give them away to charters. They will further weaken the district and the unions. This is by design. One smart blogger here went as far as to predict that the next carpetbagger savior superintendent or the next one will end up buying back the neighborhood schools, with some newfangled plan, at a steep price. Sounds like something that could actually happen.— Genders
- All by design and it's nothing to prevent it from taking place.— Lyrra
- I never realized that parents of students in charter schools did not pay taxes in Philly. No wonder the unions are against charters. Parents get to decide on which school their children attend, the children can get a safer and better education and tax free. Disgraceful!!— delcopa
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
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