SRC approves sale of 11 school buildings

THE SCHOOL Reform Commission yesterday approved the sale of 11 vacant school buildings for $14.2 million and amended the sale agreement for the former West Philadelphia High School.

Ten of the buildings approved for sale yesterday were closed last year because of declining enrollment, including the former Germantown High, Bok Technical High and Vare Elementary. The buyers include the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the Concordia Group, a Washington-based real-estate-development firm.

The sales, expected to close in four to five months, will do little to narrow the district's $81 million deficit. Officials said the net revenue will be about $2 million after closing and debt costs.

The transactions were handled by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., as part of an agreement earlier this year with the district. A few residents said they were surprised to learn of the deals, and that residents did not have a say in the process.

"You took us all incredibly by surprise, including our City Council person and state [representative], so that came as a shock [because] there has been organizing going on in the community," said Karel Kilimnik, a retired teacher and member of Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools.

Fran Burns, the district's chief operating officer, said most of the properties would require zoning changes, at which point developers would consult the community. SRC chairman Bill Green added that City Council insisted on the involvement of PIDC.

Under the agreements:

* The Concordia Group will buy the former Carroll High, Fulton Elementary, Germantown High, Walter Smith Elementary and Abigail Vare Elementary for $6.8 million. Vare and Smith will be converted into multifamily housing, Burns said.

* The Philadelphia Housing Authority will buy the former Communications Technology High, Pepper Middle School, John Reynolds Elementary and Walton Elementary for $3 million. Pepper and Communications Tech will be razed to make way for 400 new housing units and commercial space, with completion by 2020. Reynolds will become an "educational facility," and Walton will be redeveloped as 40 senior housing units, with completion in 2017.

* Scannapieco Development will buy the former Bok Technical High for $2.1 million for a multi-use project.

* UCH/Belmont Charter School will buy the former Leidy Elementary for $2.3 million.

The sale of West Philadelphia High was originally approved in December 2012, but the developer later discovered two structural issues that would result in the loss of at least 50 of the 300 planned apartments and a lower price per unit.

Additionally, Superintendent William Hite said staffers are reviewing changes to the district's cellphone policy in response to complaints from students. Under the Student Code of Conduct adopted Aug. 21, inappropriate use of cellphones can be considered from a Level 1 offense up to a Level 5 offense, which would allow for assignment to a disciplinary school and referral for expulsion.

Hite said the intent was not to vilify students and that officials are working with students to craft less-stringent language.