In October, the School Reform Commission considered but did not yet approve the following resolutions (an October action meeting for voting on resolutions was postponed to November 9):
-Authorization for negotiations on 4601 Market Street site for new West Philadelphia High School
District representatives will negotiate with nonprofit Urban Education Development Research and Retreat Center, Inc., for purchase of 4601 Market. The 15-acre site is proposed for the construction of a new West Philadelphia High School.
-$2.6 million from general fund to Kaplan K12 for curriculum development and benchmark testing.
The contract would provide scoring and data reports for all secondary benchmark assessments in math, science and English; consulting services for development of three 12th-grade courses; and continued support for staff on core curriculum.
-Terminate contracts with K12 Inc.
K12 Inc. would lose its $3 million contract to provide science materials to grades K-3, and $250,000 contract for professional services to Hunter School, in the aftermath of an offensive racial statement broadcast by company co-founder William Bennett on his radio show. In its first year, the science curriculum contract will conclude in June 2006. The measure was proposed by Commissioner Sandra Dungee Glenn, and backed by Commissioner Martin Bednarek.