Staring down a $61 million budget gap that must be closed by June, the district is moving to save $2.8 million in utilities, personnel, and overtime costs through the building closures. A document prepared by the Recreation Department for City Council and other officials counted 12,086 people, the vast majority students, whose programs would be curtailed.
District programs and activities - games, practices, and academic courses - will not be affected, spokesman Fernando Gallard said, as individual schools already pay late-night and weekend building usage fees to cover the district's costs. Outside groups that have made arrangements to pay for after-hours use will not lose their space, either.
Programs that operate through the city Department of Recreation will be hardest hit. Organizations like Fox Rok, Fairmount Soccer, the Overbrook Monarchs, and the Walnut Hill Community Association have long used schools free for activities like basketball and indoor soccer.
Buildings will be closed on weekends effective Saturday. Beginning Monday, nonschool activities and programs must end at 7:30 p.m. so buildings can close at 8.
The pushback has already started. Fox Rok parents spent Monday writing letters and calling local politicians to voice their displeasure. With four weeks left in the season, Grant's teams have nowhere to play their games.
"Let us finish out the season," Grant said. "We're only talking a few weeks, then we'll figure out next season."
Mayor Nutter acknowledged Monday that the closures would affect thousands and said the city was "taking a much closer look at estimated savings."
But, Nutter said, "I think a proposal like that is indicative of just how difficult a situation the School District is in."
