From: "Kevin Geary" To: "Kevin Geary" Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:28:58 AM Subject: [principals-list] Story in today's Inquirer Dear Principals, I am writing to provide you with information about a series of Philadelphia Inquirer articles that will be published today and over the coming days about environmental issues with our school buildings. It is no surprise that our aging buildings, which on average are 70 years old, are a major issue that must be addressed. In 2016, experts identified $4.5 billion in needed repairs across our District. We also know that we do not have the resources to address all of our maintenance needs. We have been doing as much as we can with the resources we have, for example installing new hydration stations in every school, investing millions in building upgrades and repairs each year and investing in a new work order system to document and track needed repairs. You are likely to receive questions from your school community about the articles. Please share the following facts as appropriate to help address concerns:  We will continue working to create safe, healthy, and modern learning environments for students and staff.  We have been investing as much as possible on building improvements, maintenance, and through our GreenFutures Initiative as we are able to given our funding.  Additional funding will mean that we can tackle more of our building issues more quickly. Also, be ready to share information about your building’s condition, including:  Your building’s 6-month AHERA report  Your school’s water tests, which are available at: https://www.philasd.org/capitalprograms/programsservices/environm ental/water-testing/  Your schools’ FCA report which further details the needs in your school building: https://www.philasd.org/capitalprograms/about/initiatives/facilitycondition-assessment/ If asked about the Inquirer's test results please note that we have made clear to the newspaper that we do not agree with the reporters' methods to obtain data and to conduct their own tests in ways that do not align with industry standards, and city/state/federal regulations. If you would like assistance with writing a letter to your school community explaining the story, or receive any media inquiries please contact Lee Whack, Spokesman for the District, at lwhack@philasd.org. Thank you for your time and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or issues. Sincerely, Kevin Geary -Love what you do. Love where you do it. Apply to teach in Philly today! Click here to tell us how we’re doing Sincerely, Kevin Geary Chief of External Relations School District of Philadelphia (215) 400-5810 - Direct Line (610) 755-7057 - Mobile