Northeast Philly Carnell School's repairs to force pupil relocation

By Martha Woodall, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: November 11, 2012

Seventh and eighth graders from Carnell School in Northeast Philadelphia will be relocated from an annex to a former Catholic school in January because of structural concerns about the annex's facade, the Philadelphia School District announced Friday.

The district said the Department of Licenses and Inspections had asked the district to vacate the annex at 901 Devereaux Ave. in Oxford Circle that houses the Carnell Middle Years Academy by Jan. 30.

When seventh and eighth graders return from winter recess Jan. 2, they will attend classes at the former St. Bernard school at 7360 Jackson St. in Holmesburg. They will remain at that location through the academic year that ends in June.

School buses will transport the students to the new location.

Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said in a statement that the district "places the safety of our students and staff among our foremost priorities."

A parents' meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 to provide more information about the relocation, building safety, transportation, and the new location. The session will be in the annex auditorium from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Officials said recommendations for a long-term plan for Carnell will be developed this school year as part of the district's facilities master plan.

Carnell, which has 1,450 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, is the largest elementary school in the district.

St. Bernard's elementary school closed in 2009. Students from Bridesburg Elementary are currently using the building, but they are scheduled to move to a renovated building after the winter recess.

Contact Martha Woodall at 215-854-2789 or martha.woodall@phillynews.com.

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