A Chestnut Hill school sent students home over water problems. Its renovation isn't scheduled until 2032

J.S. Jenks Academy of Arts and Sciences, a K-8 school on Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill, dismissed its students at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday after a water problem, the Inquirer reported. The paper reported that 350 or more students were sent home.

The building had no hot water Monday, and on Wednesday at least parts of it had no water at all, according to the Inquirer. The district blamed a loss of water service on the third floor and a leak in a domestic water line in the boiler room, which cut pressure throughout the building. Students were walked to a nearby recreation center with running water to wait for pickup.

For Jenks families, it's a problem with a long timeline. The building dates to 1922 and is rated "unsatisfactory" under the district's own measure. Under the $3 billion facilities plan the school board approved in April, Jenks isn't due for modernization until the 2032-33 school year, the Inquirer reported.

What the district said

Teresa Fleming, the district's chief operating officer, wrote to families that "Facilities and Maintenance staff are on-site working to address the issue," according to the Inquirer. Families were emailed about an hour after students arrived and learned of the 10:30 dismissal only minutes beforehand, the paper reported. Parents raised concerns about how the district communicated, and about breakfast and lunch being served before the dismissal.

A district letter sent Wednesday evening said the water was fixed and school would run as usual Thursday. It said the school would follow up once a district-approved action plan was in place, and that the school didn't yet have authorization to relocate students, the Inquirer reported.

The money question

The district's plan calls for about $3 billion in work. The district can cover about $1 billion and is counting on state and philanthropic money for the rest, the Inquirer reported last week. For Jenks, planned work includes a prekindergarten classroom and a full-service kitchen. Design work on an additional project could begin next school year, but only with significant philanthropic or state funding beyond the $1 billion already set aside for higher-priority projects.

That's where Tuesday's election comes in. Democrats won control of the state Senate and will hold both chambers and the governor's office in January (our story). State Sen. Vincent Hughes of West Philadelphia, expected to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee, told the Inquirer: "Create the trifecta, and then make investments in school infrastructure." Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said some schools "need to be totally rebuilt," according to the Inquirer.

Council members went further. At-large Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who chairs the Education Committee, said that with Republicans no longer controlling the state Senate, there is no reason to close 17 schools now, the Philadelphia Tribune reported. Council President Kenyatta Johnson, who has criticized the facilities plan, told the Inquirer: "If we have a trifecta, we should be doing even more."

What our records add

Council doesn't vote on the facilities plan or on which buildings get fixed first. The appointed school board does. But Council has its own tools:

• Property tax split. Bill 240180 (17-0, June 2024) and Bill 250201 (15-1, June 2025) each raised the real estate tax the school board may levy and cut the city's rate by the same amount. Both came from Johnson and Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
• Zoning. Council has rezoned school sites, including Lankenau High School's in Bill 260298 from 4th District Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.. It passed 17-0 and became law without the mayor's signature (our story).
• The district member. Jenks is in the 8th Council District, represented by Cindy Bass, according to the city's address records (AIS).
• Hearings. Council has approved a joint hearing on school meals, including kitchen infrastructure, under Resolution 260930. It has no date on our calendar (our story).

The board approved up to $200 million for its first four building projects on Oct. 29 (our story).

What's next

• The district said Jenks would share next steps once its action plan is approved.
• The new legislature takes office in January; the state budget is due by June 30, 2027.
• Council's next stated meeting is Nov. 12.