Plan for extra school day cramps phila.

By Marcia Gelbart and Kristen A. Graham
Posted Fri. 17, 2009
www.philly.com

Arlene Ackerman, superintendent of Philadelphia schools, is keeping kids in school two days longer due to bad weather conditions this past winter. One of her make up days is May 19, primary election day. More than 200 schools are polling places and voters would be walking through school doors during classes. City officials say that their main concern is the safety of the students. Bob Lee, an election administrator at the Philadelphia Board of Elections says, “It could have a substantial impact on us, especially at this late date.” Nearly a third of the city’s 1,678 voting divisions cast their ballots in a city school. Ackerman said that she and the staff have been fighting with the decision of closing the schools. By law, Pennsylvania students must attend school 180 days; with the two added days, Philadelphia students will attend school for 181. District spokesman Fernando Gallard said the extra day was necessary for "academic reasons." In a letter Wednesday to Ackerman, Zack Stalberg, president of the Committee of Seventy, an election-watchdog group, also expressed concern stating that from the public standpoint, schools tend to be good places for voting machines to be located and it’s certainly somewhat easier if school isn't in session that day."
I think schools should be closed because come May 19 when people have to vote there will be no places available for voters to cast their votes. I don’t think Arlene Ackerman really thought about her plans before she stated them. The article was very insightful and it had comments from both sides of the story, and you didn’t hear the author’s voice in the article. The authors’ writing was clearly written. The key information that was left out was she didn’t get a comment from any student on how they felt about two more days of school. Overall it was a great story.

By Ariel S.