Three new public high schools are in the works for Philadelphia, and another 10 schools may be totally transformed — but none of these changes are expected to result in a school devoted to LGBT students, Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman said last week.
At a March 6 press conference, Ackerman explained the district’s five-year strategic plan, dubbed “Imagine 2014,” which she hopes will bring significant improvements to benefit the district’s 157,000 students.
At the press conference, Ackerman reaffirmed her commitment that all students, including LGBT students, receive a quality education in an atmosphere free of bullying or harassment.
But the superintendent said she doesn’t envision an LGBT public high school for the city, similar to the Harvey Milk High School in New York City. She noted that even San Francisco, where she previously served as a school superintendent, doesn’t have an LGBT public school.
However, Ackerman added that if the larger community demands such a school in Philadelphia, she wouldn’t stand in the way of its creation.
Ackerman said Philadelphia has about 280 public schools, 85 of which were recently identified as under-performing. These schools have been given $18 million in additional resources to help students achieve scholastically, she said.
Even with this boost, it’s probable that 10 schools will be completely transformed, possibly with the assistance of outside operators, she added.
Ackerman cautioned that the 10 transformed schools may not be among the 85 schools already identified as under-performing.
Once the school year ends in June, Ackerman said all city public schools will be reviewed to determine whether it’s still necessary to completely transform 10 of them.
She said she prefers that no restructuring be required, but that she won’t tolerate substandard schools, which puts students at a disadvantage for jobs after graduation — if indeed they graduate.
The three brand-new high schools that Ackerman envisions will focus on career training.
Another innovation she is promoting calls for “advocates” to be assigned to high-school students. The advocate would be a paid position, and would augment the traditional guidance-counselor services.
She said the advocates would help students navigate their educational experiences. When questioned by PGN, Ackerman said openly LGBT individuals would be welcome to apply for the positions.
Ackerman said the five-year plan calls for the district to have strong partnerships with all segments of the community, including the LGBT community.
But she stopped short of promising to advocate for social and political issues of importance to the LGBT community, noting that it could detract from her role as superintendent of the school district.
Ackerman was asked if she would bring to the district’s School Reform Commission a resolution commending President Obama for pledging to end the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers.
LGBT advocates say the resolution would benefit openly gay and lesbian students attending the district’s two military schools, who may later wish to enter the military.
Ackerman said she personally wouldn’t be interested in promoting such a resolution, but suggested that members of the LGBT community pursue the issue with the SRC on their own.
Following the press conference, district officials were asked about efforts to protect all public-school students from anti-LGBT protesters, in light of the recent picketing outside Central High by supporters of the Rev. Fred Phelps.
Ackerman’s spokesperson, Vincent E. Thompson, responded, “The School District of Philadelphia works hard to let all of our schools understand that we are open to everyone, and that discrimination of any kind is not accepted. Fostering that kind of atmosphere inside our schools, we feel, will go a long way in dissuading people from protesting outside our schools.”
The school district will hold a series of public meetings to solicit community input about the plan.
The meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. on March 19 at South Philadelphia High School; March 23 at Northeast High School; March 26 at Pepper Middle School; and March 31 at Girls High School. Dinner will be provided.
To reserve a seat, call (215) 400-5837 or e-mail [email protected].
Additionally, individuals may directly comment on the plan by sending e-mails to [email protected].
Tim Cwiek can be reached at (215) 625-8501 ext. 208.