Philadelphia school board members raise concerns over district's school closure proposal

The district wants to close 18 schools, but board members say they need more information before deciding whether to support the plan.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Philadelphia school district has proposed closing 18 schools beginning in 2027, but the plan faces skepticism from members of the Board of Education who say they need more information and time before deciding whether to support it. Superintendent Tony Watlington said the district removed two schools from the initial closure list after taking community feedback into consideration, and that no staff positions would be cut as a result of the closures. However, board members and community members expressed concerns about the plan's impact on students, transportation, and safety, as well as the district's ability to fund the $2.8 billion in proposed investments.

Why it matters

The school closure proposal is a major issue for the Philadelphia school district, which is facing declining enrollment and chronic underfunding. The board's decision on the plan will have significant implications for students, families, and communities across the city.

The details

The district's plan would close 18 schools beginning in 2027, co-locate (combine two schools in one building) and relocate others, and invest in more than 100 school buildings. Superintendent Tony Watlington said the district removed Conwell Middle School and Motivation High School from the initial proposed closure list after taking community feedback into consideration. He also said the district would not cut staff positions as a result of the closures.

  • The district released the school closure proposal last month.
  • Thursday's board meeting marked the first time most of the members spoke publicly about the proposal.
  • The board will hold a town hall on March 12 to hear more feedback from the community.

The players

Tony Watlington

The superintendent of the Philadelphia school district, who announced the school closure proposal and said the district removed two schools from the initial list after considering community feedback.

Reginald Streater

The president of the Philadelphia Board of Education, who said the board is willing to make tough decisions but that chronic underfunding and declining enrollment have put the district in a difficult position.

Wanda Novalés

A member of the Philadelphia Board of Education, who said that if the district is asking communities to sacrifice neighborhood schools, the benefit must be worth the sacrifice.

Arthur Steinberg

The president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, who called the plan to close schools an "abomination" and said he feared students and staff would leave the district if the board approves it.

Robin Cooper

The president of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, which represents school principals and other staff, who called for more transparency from the district about the decision-making process.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If we are asking communities to sacrifice neighborhood schools, the benefit must be worth the sacrifice.”

— Wanda Novalés, Board member (Chalkbeat)

“They keep claiming that this is what people want, but it's actually not. They hold these community meetings, but then there's really no comprehensive feedback from it.”

— Kathryn Lajara, Special education compliance monitor at Stetson Middle School (Chalkbeat)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Philadelphia Board of Education has not yet scheduled a vote on the school closure proposal. The board will hold a town hall on March 12 to hear more feedback from the community before making a decision.

The takeaway

The school closure proposal is a contentious issue in Philadelphia, with board members and community members expressing concerns about the plan's impact on students, transportation, and safety, as well as the district's ability to fund the proposed investments. The board's decision on the plan will have significant implications for the city's public school system.