Concern over colleges' plan for 2 U. City high schools

Teachers, parents and community members expressed apprehension last night about a proposal for the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University to run two small high schools in University City in partnership with the Philadelphia School District.

They questioned whether a proposed international studies-focused high school run by Penn and an engineering and technology school run by Drexel had the right themes.

"The students who go here are not interested in international business. They need something that's going to be applicable to them," said Lashundra Dixon, a U.S. history and government teacher at University City High School. She suggested mechanics or nursing programs.

More than 70 people attended the meeting at the school, 36th and Filbert Streets.

Cassandra W. Jones, the district's interim chief academic officer, said that the proposal could go before the School Reform Commission next month but that a vote likely would not come until later.

Gregory Johnson, an elder at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 35th and Baring Streets, and part of University City High's advisory council, said a team from Drexel ended a partnership with the high school three years ago, saying they felt that the school was unsafe for their staff.

"They abandoned this school. . . . We don't want to go to people who are going to come here and abandon us again," he said.

William F. Lynch, director of Drexel's School of Education, agreed that Drexel had pulled out because of safety, but said the school had improved under a new principal and that Drexel is back helping again.

"The place has really turned around and is a much better environment," he said.

He also the university was working to help get more of the high school's students accepted to Drexel. "We're going to be involved in University City regardless of the new school concept," he added.

Much of the apprehension also was directed at the district's plan to close University City High for renovations in 2010, causing juniors and seniors who would not be eligible for the new schools to be sent elsewhere for two years.

District officials last night said they would consider a request from the audience to delay the renovation work until 2012, after the final two classes have graduated. University City will stop accepting freshmen after September because of the renovation work.

Under the proposal from Penn and Drexel, the 500-student schools would open in September 2009 at a different location and then possibly relocate to a renovated University City High School in 2012.

They would start with ninth grade and add a grade each year. They likely would draw 70 percent of the students from the neighborhood and 30 percent citywide.