Mayor Jim Kenney announced the nine members of the Philadelphia Board of Education, which will govern the city’s schools after 17 years of state control. The board will officially begin work on July 1.

The new nine-member board, which includes six women and three men, was chosen from dozens of candidates. Check out the full profiles of all the members here. Social worker and administrator Julia Danzy will chair the board. The board also includes two members – Joyce Wilkerson and Chris McGinley – of the School Reform Commission, which was appointed by the state to run the school district. SRC members voted to dissolve the commission in November 2017. It will cease to exist on June 30.

The new board will embark on a “listening tour” around the city later this month. Members will be at the Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library at 52nd and Sansom on May 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Do you want to support early childhood education and have a great night out? Would you bid on a Cape May vacation or some original artwork? How about a birthday party package to University Family Fun Center or a new bike? These are some of over 100 items featured at the 14th annual Saint Mary’s Nursery School (SMNS) annual fundraiser:

Spring For Our School Silent Auction & Party

Saturday, April 21 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Harnwell College House Rooftop Lounge
3820 Locust Walk
Tickets: $45 (adults only) at www.stmarysnursery.org/sfos

Who is Saint Mary’s Nursery School? SMNS is a diverse, non-denominational school with a 54-year history in West Philadelphia, home to 150 children between 18 mo – 10 yrs and involve many active family members in our co-op program.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (March 22, 2018): The Snow Emergency declared in the city on Wednesday morning was lifted at 6 a.m. on Thursday, so it’s now safe to park vehicles along snow emergency routes.

Due to Wednesday’s snowstorm, all School District of Philadelphia schools will open on a two-hour delay on Thursday, the District has announced. All buses will operate on a delayed schedule pushing morning pick up times back by two hours. All District-operated early childhood programs will also open on a two-hour delay. After-school activities including athletic programs and professional development sessions set for Thursday will continue as scheduled.

District administrative offices will open on time as regularly scheduled.

The city of Philadelphia is preparing for heavy snow through tomorrow evening. The Philadelphia School District has announced that all public schools will be closed Wednesday. All parochial elementary and high schools will also be closed.

The City has declared a Snow Emergency beginning at 9 a.m on Wednesday, which means all vehicles parked along snow emergency routes must be moved to another location to allow plowing. Snow Emergency information and a map of Snow Emergency routes can be found here. Cars left on Snow Emergency routes will be moved to other parking spots. If your car is moved, call 215-686-SNOW to find it. Please do not call 911.  Continue Reading

Philadelphia schools, from elementary schools to universities, are participating in the National School Walkout to protest gun violence after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.. The walkout is scheduled for 10 a.m. and will last 17 minutes, commemorating the 17 victims who died in the shooting.

Some local schools and parents shared information about their participation in the walkout on social media. Other schools sent out instructions to their students advising them on how to make the event safer.  Continue Reading

Residents are invited to the monthly Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) Board meeting tonight at the SHCA center at 257 S. 45th St, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Representatives from Penn will be at the meeting to provide updates on current events and plans, including Glenn Bryan, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations, Ed Datz, Executive Director of Real Estate, and Maureen Rush, Vice President for Public Safety and Superintendent of the Penn Police department.

Regular committee updates and May Fair planning are also on the agenda.  Continue Reading