The School District of Philadelphia has revised its proposed $2.8 billion Facilities Master Plan, reducing the number of recommended school closures from 20 to 18 and removing Russell Conwell Middle School and Motivation High School from the list.
The updated proposal was presented during a public Board of Education meeting that drew more than a thousand attendees, with overflow space used to accommodate the crowd. Community members gathered outside district headquarters before the meeting, chanting “save our schools,” as board members reviewed the revisions.
Under the revised plan, Russell Conwell Middle School will remain open. Instead of closing the Kensington school, the district now plans for students from Lewis Elkin Elementary School to feed into Conwell to increase enrollment.
Motivation High School was also removed from the closure list. The district now plans to merge Motivation with Paul Robeson High School at the Motivation campus.
During public comment, teachers and students addressed board members about the impact of potential closures. Andrew Saltz, a teacher at Paul Robeson High School, said, “I don’t think luxury housing means you have to close a high-performing Black high school.” Justice Rae, a student at Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, told the board, “Do not sell us out to pay your debts.”
The 10-year facilities plan calls for modernization of 159 buildings and maintenance of 124 facilities across the district. It also proposes co-locating programs in six buildings and closing or repurposing 18 district-owned properties under the updated recommendation. Funding would combine $1 billion in district resources with an additional $1.8 billion in public and philanthropic support.
If approved, closures and transitions would not begin until the 2027–28 school year.
Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School remains slated for closure, but would now merge with W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences. Superintendent Tony Watlington said, “The environmental theme at Lankenau can fit nicely with the W.B. Saul agricultural campus.”
Deputy Superintendent Oz Hill added, “It’s a good plan, it is not a perfect plan… The scrutiny, the critical thinking, the vetting that’s going to take place, is needed so we can do the very best job to support the growth of our students and our families.”
Board President Reginald Streater described the facilities blueprint as “a plan that is dynamic, that can evolve over time.”
The Board of Education has not yet taken a final vote on the revised proposal. A town hall is scheduled to gather additional public input before further board action.
