Palmer charter school in Philadelphia denied $1.4 million needed to stay open

A Common Pleas Court judge on Wednesday denied a request by Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School for an immediate payment of $1.4 million from the Philadelphia School District - putting the charter's future in jeopardy.

It was not immediately clear whether the school's closure was imminent, but Palmer officials have said in court documents that without the payment, they could be forced to close by month's end.

Judge Nina Wright Padilla ordered the district, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr., and the School Reform Commission to do everything in their power to ensure a smooth and quick transition for the school's 1,290 students.

"I'm very concerned about the children," she said.

The school was contracted to enroll only 675 students, and Padilla said that a Supreme Court ruling in late May made it clear that the district was not obligated to pay for additional students.

After the hearing, Walter D. Palmer, who founded the school that bears his name, said he was not sure how much longer the school could operate without the money. He expressed disappointment with the judge's ruling, and said the school would review its legal options.

The K-12 charter, which opened in 2000, has campuses in Northern Liberties and Frankford.

Robert M. Gamburg, the school's attorney, told Padilla that Hite had sent a letter to the parents of Palmer students in May promising that the school would operate throughout the 2014-15 academic year and that the district would fund its operations.

"His word is his bond," Gamburg said of Hite.

Carl A. Solano, a School District attorney, countered that Hite's letter said nothing about funding. And Solano said the state Supreme Court ruling plainly said the school was not entitled to be paid for more than 675 students.

On Tuesday, the School District began calling and sending letters to parents of Palmer students telling them how they could transfer their children to other schools.