THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 440 NORTH BROAD STREET, SUITE 301 PHILADELPHIA, 19130 WILLIAM R. HITE, JR., TELEPHONE (215) 409-4100 SUPERINTENDENT FAX (215) 400-4103 June 9, 2017 VIA EMAIL AND HAND-DELI VERY Honorable Darrell L. Clarke President, City Council of Philadelphia Room 494, City Hall Philadelphia, PA 19107 Dear Council President Clarke: 1 am writing to follow up on several topics raised in advance of and during City Council?s hearing on The School District of Philadelphia?s budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 (FY18). We remain appreciative for the opportunity to share progress made and lessons we have learned throughout the past year. The following are those responses. 1. Intended outcomes of PennAssist Will students get into jobs or apprenticeships without an additional test from unions through PennAssist? PermAssist is a unique opportunity for Philadelphia youth to enter into an apprenticeship of a skilled building trade after completion of the School District?s Career and Technical Education program. Over a 12-month period, students participate in an on-site job placement, receive skills training and onenonu one mentoring in hopes of removing any barrier to admittance into an apprenticeship. Students who pass the apprentice test will join the union and continue employment in that building trade. Students who fail the test, or choose not to take a test within the 12wmonth period, will cease to be in the program, but can be assessed for other opportunities at Penn Medicine or referred to Philadelphia Works or Career Links for employment assistance. 2. Green schoolyards criteria for selection schools What is the criteria for selecting schools and can we get an update on green schoolyards? In August 2011, the School District of Philadelphia was contacted by the City of Philadelphia?s Department of Parks and Recreation to discuss an opportunity to create a unique partnership aimed at meeting goals established in the ?Green 2015? Action Plan. One of the goals identi?ed in the plan was to initiate a citywide schoolyard greening project in neighborhoods not well served by park space. Parks and Recreation introduced the School District to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national Honorable Darrell L. Clarke June 9, 2017 Page 2 nonprofit organization with extensive experience in building city parks, community gardens, and playgrounds across the country. The School District, Parks Recreation, and TPL began to engage in a series of meetings to discuss how to leverage resources to green District schoolyards. The team looked at several factors to identify a potential cohort of schools for this initiative. These factors included: School/ site location (to ensure sites were equitably distributed across the city) Philadelphia Water Department (FWD) Storm water Analysis (PWD has identi?ed watershed boundaries that would qualify for storm water credits) Existing Site Conditions (size of schoolyard and area available for construction) 0 Existing Community Partnerships/Levels of Engagement (For TPL it was important that the immediate surrounding community was supportive of the project and willing to commit to the renovated site?s long term care) Proximity to City Recreation Centers Principal Tenure/ School Willingness to Participate in Partnership (schools had to demonstrate how they would integrate the TPL design process into the school day and curriculum. Schools that have had their Principal in the building for 3 yrs. or more were prioritized). 3. Capital Improvement Projects. Can you provide examples of capital improvement projects at schools? There is a capital improvement project that began at Dobbins High School. This project will drastically improve the conditions of classrooms and hallways as well as provide employment opportunities for CTE students. The community, alumni, parents, staff and students have all been a part of these renovation plans and the timeline around completion. Additionally, work on the new Media Lab at Overbrook High School will begin this summer. We have informed alumni, staff, students and parents as well as shared copies of the architect?s design. 4. Camelot School and Special Needs - How many students in Camelot Schools have Special Needs? There are four Camelot schools with a total enrollment of 1,157 students and 131 special education students. This is 11.3% of the student population in Camelot schools that are considered special need students. 5. Total number of charter schools in Philadelphia and their stranded costs - What is the total number of charter schools in Philadelphia compared to the rest of the state? What are stranded costs for renaissance vs traditional charter schools? There are 180 Charter Schools in the Commonwealth of Philadelphia has 88 of those Charter Schools. School Name and Reason 202 CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS 640 WIDENER MEMORIAL SCHOOL 253 PHILA JUV JUSTICE SVCS CTR 625 HENRY, CHARLES W. SCHOOL 144 PENROSE SCHOOL 403 H.S. OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE 200 SOUTH PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL 621 EDMONDS, FRANKLIN S. SCHOOL Honorable Darrell L. Clarke June 9, 2017 Page 3 In 2015, the School Reform Commission contracted with Afton Partners to update the stranded cost analysis, look at school funding within the District, and how Philadelphia public schools use the funds they receive. The report was designed to be a ?nancial analysis of the impact of charter schools and it does not address the academic performance or legal compliance of charter schools. According to the Afton report, regular Charter stranded costs are about $4,824 (per student?); Ren Charter stranded costs are about $1,688 per student. For additional information, please visit the School District?s website to access the full Report: Imps: 70306 Simimary Outcomesmif 6. Maintenance of Effort relating to school playgrounds - PENDING. We have not gotten a ?nal answer on this question and are continuing to get a de?nitive response. 7. Non-Philadelphia residents attending District schools - How many students from outside of the city are attending public schools and paying tuition? SDP Non-Resident Students There are 41 total students in 24 district run schools. 0 5 School Choice-Tuition Pay 120 BARRY, COMM. JOHN SCHOOL Foster Care Children with specialized disabilities. (SDP bills home district for tuition) Court Placement?State Reimbursed Foster Care 123 BRYANT, WILLIAM C. SCHOOL Unknown Foster Care Foster Care Unknown Foster Care Unknown Honorable Darrell L. Clarke June 9, 2017 Page 4 ?72?7 FINLETTER9 THOMAS K. SCHOOL Foster Care 803 WASHINGTON, GEORGE HIGH SCHOOL Foster Care 149 BLANKENBURG, RUDOLPH SCHOOL Foster Care 820 ALLEN, ETHAN SCHOOL Foster Care 720 BARTON, CLARA SCHOOL Foster Care 856 THE WORKSHOP SCHOOL School Choice-Tuition Pay 731 FELTONVILLE LNTERMEDIATE Foster Care 102 WEST PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL Homeless-Unaccompanied Youth 804 ARTS ACADEMY AT RUSH School Choice?Tuition Pay 428 GOMPERS, SAMUEL SCHOOL Foster Care 854 PENNYPACK HOUSE SCHOOL Court Placement-State Reimbursed 432 LAMBERTON, ROBERT E. SCHOOL Foster Care 544 WILLARD, FRANCES E. SCHOOL Unknown 601 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL School Choice?Tuition Pay Grand Total .3 Reasons non?resident students enrolled in School District schools are as follows: a. School Choice-Parent Pays Tuition (10 students) b. Foster Care placed by Philadelphia DHS in a home outside the city (18 students) c. Homeless (McKinney Vento Act) homeless (1 student) d. Delinquent Court Placement (Pennypack House, Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Center) (4 students) e. Children with disabilities in Specialized School (Widener) (3 students) Honorable Darrell L. Clarke June 9, 2017 Page 5 f. Unknown Reason (5 students additional research pending) Changes since May 18, 2017 The parents of the student attending Masterman presented documentation proving they moved into the city and are now residents. 8. Building Sales - Total school sales completed or currently on the market? SOLD 29 A08 - Agreement of Sale 1 Vacant Listed w/ Co. 7 Demo 1 TOTAL 38 School Name Address Zip Date Status Date Sold Code Closed Aieorn Annex 1325?49 S. 33rd 19146 6/30/11 Sold 1/6/15 Street Beeber 1818 N. 53rd Street 19131 6/30/05 Vacant Annex Bok, Edward 1901 S. 9th Street 19148 6/30/13 Sold 7/7/15 Carroll, Charles 2826 Saimon Street 19134 6/30/13 Sold 5/19/17 Childs, George 1501 S. 17th St 19146 6/30/10 SOLD 2/5/15 Clemente, Roberto 3921-61 N. 5th Street 19140 9/20/16 SOLD 9/21/16 (old) Communications 2900 Street 19153 6/30/13 Vacant Tech Honorable Darrell L. Clarke June 9, 2017 Page 6 Douglas, Stephen 2700 E. Huntington 19125 6/30/13 Sold 6/10/14 Street Drew, Charles 1183 N. 38th Street 19104 6/30/ 12 Sold 6/ 16/14 Fairhill 2800-62 6th Street 19133 6/30/13 Vacant Fels, Samuel 1001 W. Devereaux 19111 6/30/13 Vacant DEMO Avenue FitzSimons, 2601-31 W. 19132 6/30/ 13 A08 Thomas Cumberland St. Fulton, Robert 56?86 E. Haines 19144 6/30/ 13 Sold 5/19/17 Street Germantown 5901-41 19144 6/30/13 Sold 5/19/17 Germantown Ave. Gillespie, Elizabeth 3901-61 N. 18th 19140 6/30/10 Sold 4/30/15 Street Harrison, William 1012 W. Thompson 19122 6/30/ 12 Sold 6/10/14 Street Jones (Annex) Amber Willard 19134 6/30/10 Sold 4/7/14 Maisland Streets Leidy, Joseph 1301-59 Belmont 19104 6/30/ 13 Sold 1/9/ 15 Avenue Lewis, Ada 6199 Ardleigh Street 19138 6/30/07 Vacant Monroe Annex 427 Monroe Street 19148 6/30/ 10 Sold 10/7/13 Muhr, Simon 3150 Germantown 19133 6/30/09 Sold 1/31/ 14 Avenue Peirce, William 2400 Christian 19146 6/30/07 Vacant Street Honorable Darrell L. Clarke June 9, 2017 Page 7 Penn, William 1301 N. Broad Street 19122 6/30/12 Sold 6/30/14 6 Pepper, George 2801 S. 84th Street 19153 6/30/13 Vacant Reynolds, John 2300-52 Jefferson 19121 6/30/ 13 Sold 10/22/ 15 Street Shaw, Anna 5500 Warrington 19143 6/30/ 13 Sold 6/2/14 Avenue Sheridan West 3701 Frankford 19124 6/30/ 13 Sold 8/15/16 Academy Avenue Smith, Walter 1300 S. 19th Street 19146 6/30/13 Sold 5/19/17 Stanton, M. Hall 1523-49 W. 19132 6/30/13 Sold 4/4/06 Cumberland St. University City 3601 Filbert Street 19104 6/16/13 Sold 6/16/14 Vare, Abigail 1619 E. 19148 6/30/ 13 Sold 5/19/17 Moyamensing Ave. Vaux, Robert 2300 W. Master 19121 6/30/13 Sold 5/18/17 Street Walnut Center 3/25 Warren Street 19104 6/30/13 Sold 6/16/14 Walton, Rudolph 2601?31 N. 28th 19132 6/30/05 Sold 10/22/15 Street West Philly HS 4700 Walnut St. 19139 6/30/11 Sold 2/19/05 Whittier, John 2600 Clearfield 19132 6/30/ 13 Street Willard, Frances 1920 E. Orleans 19134 6/30/ 10 Sold 9/21/16 (old) Street Honorabie Darrell L. Clarke lune 9, 2017 Page 8 Wilson, Alexander 1360 S. 46th Street 19143 6/30/13 Sold 7/9/15 9. Course offerings in ?nancial literacy Yes. We will expand offerings in ?nancial literacy in our curriculum. Chris Shaffer, Deputy Chief of Academic Supports, will work with Councilman Domb?s coalition to analyze school readiness for implementation and we will work with the team from the Federal Reserve to outline the content. 10. Nurse ratie .. What is the student to nurse ratio? There is an average of nurse for every 725 District students. 11. Improving Trauma Informed Care What is your comprehensive strategy to improve trauma informed care and better integration with To ensure that every child has a successful school experience, the School District of Philadelphia collaborates with the Department of Behavioral Health, the Department of Human Services, and all of their providers to create a continuum of behavioral health services and supports. Today, 40 elementary and middle schools are implementing Positive Behavioral Intervention Systems (PBIS). PBIS handles school?wide discipline with school?wide systems of support that include proactive strategies for de?ning, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create positive school environments. Implementing PBIS is progress toward becoming a Trauma Informed School. By shifting mindsets on what motivates behavior, school?based staff will be better equipped to understand, recognize, and respond to students experiencing social/ emotional suffering. Currently, we are re?ning an evidence?based trauma informed care model that will be tailored to schools and their speci?c needs. Until then, we continue to offer professional development in areas such as understanding teens, understanding anger and essential communication skills to all school~ based staff. 12.. ICE entering Philadelphia Schools Will the SRC introduce policy regarding ICE officials entering schools? Commissioners will not take formal action on this request. The SRC continues to support Dr. Hite and the District in their efforts to support students, teachers, and families. The School District of Philadelphia remains committed to protecting the rights of all students including, documented, undocumented, new Americans, and multi?generation Americans. Our schools will remain safe havens for many students who seek support, advice, direction, and refuge. Honorable Darrell L. Clarke June 9, 2017 Page 9 Additional meeting requests: A. Can you explain best practices on using best value within procurement? A meeting has been scheduled with Councilman Green and Chief of Operations Fran Burns and her team for June 2 1 st on the topic of best practices on using best value within procurement. B. Provide examples of capital improvement projects schools and information provided to public? A meeting is scheduled with Councilman Green and Chief of Operations Fran Burns and her team for June 16th to provide examples of school communities are engaged prior to, during and after completion of capital improvement projects at schools. C. What are leading indicators for year-to-year SPR movement for schools in the 7th District? There is a meeting tentatively scheduled with Councilman Bobby Henon, Chief for District Evaluation, Research and Accountability, Dr. Tonya Wofford and Network 9 Assistant Superintendent Dr. Richard Rhodes on June 15th to discuss leading indicators for year?to-year SPR movement for schools in the 7th District. The Schodl District has a clear vision. Our Anchor Goals in Action Plan 3.0 lay out an unyielding focus on early literacy; improving academic growth for stronger college and career readiness; supporting principals and teachers who can bring out the best in our students; and working to ensure our ?nances are stable and ?scally responsible. Our continued partnership with City Council is vital to creating great schools within Philadelphia?s neighborhoods. Sincerely, William R. Hite, Jr, WRH/dpw cc: Members of the School Reform Commission