Protesters call for mayor to block Philadelphia school closings [video]

Those trying to stop the closure of 29 Philadelphia public schools this fall rallied outside City Hall Monday asking for help from Mayor Michael Nutter. 

There were about a half dozen groups represented at the rally. Among them was Quanisha Smith of Action United. She says there should be a one-year moratorium on school closings.

“Mayor Nutter we need you to be a leader on this issue and advocate for proven strategies of education reform, and school closures is not it,” said Smith.

 Rev. Alyn Waller of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church says the plan is not well thought out.

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“Our argument is this present approach lacks full information,” said Waller. “It lacks full community engagement. It does not display a consideration of all students and it displaces 14,000 students in unsafe ways.”

A spokesman says Mayor Nutter is against the proposed moratorium and is supporting Superintendent William Hite’s efforts to deal with the thousands of empty seats in Philadelphia classrooms.

 

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