School board approves up to $200 million for its first four building projects as Council members press Parker on closures
The 6-1 vote funds work at Bache-Martin, Catharine, Patterson and Edmonds, three of which will take in students from closing schools. Council doesn't vote on the plan, but it does set the district's share of the property tax.
The Philadelphia Board of Education voted 6-1 on Oct. 29 to approve up to $200 million for four school building projects, the first spending under the district's 10-year facilities plan, the Inquirer reported. The same day, City Council members and union leaders rallied outside district headquarters against the plan's 17 school closures.
If your child attends one of these schools, or one of the schools closing into them, this vote sets what the building will look like.
The four projects
According to the Inquirer:
- Bache-Martin Elementary, Fairmount, $68 million: a new gym, cafeteria and classrooms, plus heating and cooling, roof, window and electrical work. It will absorb students from Robert Morris and Waring, which are closing.
- Catharine Elementary, Southwest Philadelphia, $48 million: a new gym and classrooms, upgraded heating and cooling and restroom renovations. It is adding grades to take in students from Tilden Middle School.
- Patterson Elementary, Southwest Philadelphia, $53 million: an addition, a new gym or cafeteria and an elevator. It is also adding grades as Tilden closes.
- F.S. Edmonds, East Mount Airy, $12 million: an addition, restroom renovations and accessibility work.
The projects add about 700 seats and affect about 2,400 students. The Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development will pick developers and sign the contracts, for an administrative fee capped at $2 million. Board member Whitney Jones voted no, questioning how the projects were chosen and whether the full plan can be paid for. "Our needs are so great, we've got to start somewhere," Superintendent Tony Watlington said.
The whole plan is estimated at $3 billion. The district can cover about $1 billion and is counting on state and philanthropic money for the rest, the Inquirer reported. Chalkbeat reported that about $2 billion in grants has not been secured.
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Council members and the mayor
At the rally, Education Committee chair Isaiah Thomas urged Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to "step off the sideline," and Rue Landau said the mayor "has to come to the table," Chalkbeat reported. Jamie Gauthier also called on the mayor to step in. The Inquirer reported that Thomas pressed the board at its meeting to negotiate on closures and later apologized for his conduct there.
The mayor appoints the school board. Parker's office did not respond to Chalkbeat; her administration has said she supports the plan. Chalkbeat reported that several members want to explore an elected school board.
What our records add
Closing schools is the board's decision, and Council does not vote on the facilities plan. Council's main money lever is the property tax split:
- Bill 240180 raised the real estate tax the school board may levy and cut the city's rate by the same amount. It passed 17-0 on June 6, 2024.
- Bill 250201 did the same the next year and passed 15-1 on June 12, 2025.
Both came from Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson.
Council has also used zoning. Bill 260298, which limits future uses of the Lankenau High School site, passed 17-0 and became law without the mayor's signature, as we reported.
What's next
- PAID will begin choosing builders for the four projects.
- The first closures take effect at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and the board has said any changes to the plan will come through public channels, the Inquirer reported.
- Council's joint hearing on school meals, Resolution 260930, has no date yet. Council meets Nov. 12.