The School Reform Commission held its first meeting of the school year just hours after City Council approved a vote that could dismantle it.

If signed into law by Mayor Nutter, Philadelphia parents, educators and citizens alike will hold the fate of the SRC in their hands as they vote on whether or not to return local control of schools. But the commission’s prospects aren’t looking so good. Thursday’s meeting gave just a sampling of public sentiment towards the SRC. 

The first meeting began with Superintendent William Hite's highlights of the year, among them the three new high schools, improvements in early education programs and the upcoming high school fair. Once the speakers began, however, the conversation turned to underfunded classrooms and shuttered school buildings.  

By the end of the short meeting the commission voted on the sale of 11 schools buildings, including Germantown High School, for a net profit of approximately $2 million. The decision surprised community members, especially in Germantown, where residents had come together to find a use for the site that would benefit the community.

“You took us all incredibly be surprise,” former teacher Karel Kilimnik, a speaker at the meeting, said, referring to the sale of Germantown High School. Another speaker, Mama Gail, told the SRC that, “it’s appalling to me the amount that you’re selling those buildings for.”

The Concordia Group, a Maryland developer, will gain control of Germantown and Carroll High Schools as well as Smith, Vare and Fulton Elementary Schools for $6.8 million. Scannapieco Development will pay $2.1 million for Bok High School. Leidy will buy Belmont Charter for $2.3 million. Philadelphia Housing Authority will take over Pepper Middle School, Communications Tech and Reynolds and Walton Elementary schools for $3 million. However, because the district spent money on repairs and upgrades to sell the buildings, the net profit will be small.

The 11 properties will net five times less than Temple University’s purchase of William Penn High School for $11.7 million. The commission also decreased the price of West Philadelphia High from $6 million to $5.1 million, which would provide the district with $4.9 million in funds.