Grassroots group to mull GHS building’s future at meeting next week

A nascent grassroots group will continue its work to bring a new educational endeavor to Germantown High School’s vacant building at a meeting next Thursday.

The group cancelled its meeting this week after it became clear that core members wouldn’t be able to attend, said Julie Stapleton-Carroll, who is spearheading the effort.

A zoning meeting related to Chelten Plaza — developers want to bring an Aaron’s furniture store to the location — was one reason why.

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At its next meeting, the group will tackle what values and concepts it wants to be part of its vision and mission statement, among other things.

“It’s more nuts and bolts than anything else right now,” said Stapleton-Carroll.

It’s still unclear exactly what form the new school at GHS would take.

At an earlier meeting, residents appeared to be interested in trying to open a voc-tech school, but there has also been talk about offering more traditional coursework as well.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at state Rep. Stephen Kinsey’s district office, 5537 Germantown Ave.

GHS closed in June as part of the School District of Philadelphia’s facilities master plan, an effort aimed, in part, at addressing an ongoing budget crisis. A total of 24 school were shuttered at the end of the last academic year.

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