Jan.

22, 2012

Dear Parents, No one should have to line up in the cold for nearly 24 hours to register their child for kindergarten. Last June, our Board of Directors passed a resolution stating that all children living in the Penn Alexander catchment should have a right to attend PAS and that it should be guaranteed through eighth grade. We also called on Penn President Amy Gutmann and then-Superintendent Arlene Ackerman to begin talks on how the enrollment crunch at PAS could be resolved. Since then, we have met with Penn officials, who are very concerned about the situation and its impact on the community. We are also working closely with AGREE (Advocates for Great Elementary Education), the parents group that is focused on Penn Alexander enrollment issues. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to the over-enrollment problem. The presence of so many parents lined up outside PAS today shows how great the demand is for quality public education in West Philadelphia. The SHCA is committed to finding a solution that serves all the children living in the Penn Alexander catchment. We welcome participation from all who have a stake in PAS and Spruce Hill. For there to be a solution, the community must make itself heard. Sincerely,

Ed Halligan, President

Mark Wagenveld, Immediate Past President