City schools prepare for potential SEPTA strike

SPRING GARDEN (WPVI) -- Many companies are preparing for Tuesday's potential strike, as are schools in the city.

SEPTA says 56,000 kids in Philadelphia ride its trains, buses and trolleys to get to school.

Roughly 30,000 to district schools, almost 21,000 to charters. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia was unable to provide us a number on Monday.

Yellow school buses in Philadelphia will continue to operate SEPTA strike or no strike.

But a walkout would ground city buses, trolleys, the subway and EL.

It normally takes two transfers for Siani Anderson to get from Southwest Philadelphia to her school at Broad and Spring Garden.

If there is a strike?

"My plan is to try to make it, but if I don't make it, I'll just email my teachers for work," said Anderson of Southwest Philadelphia.

The School District was unable to tell us if any of its schools had developed any car pool or other alternate plans.

But the Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School of Philadelphia was preparing.

Parents calling staffers Monday were told the school would open early and close late to accommodate drop-offs and pick-up.

With many kids normally using the subway, it's set-up seven pre-determined locations along Broad Street. If SEPTA is not running, the school will provide a bus.

"We have a school bus, a mini school bus. We're going to go to different locations on Broad Street, so if parents can get the children to Broad Street or if they can walk to Broad Street, then we're going to pick them up," said Chief Administrative Officer Veronica Joyner.

Veronica Joyner, who founded the school, is hoping Philadelphians will not shrug if there is a strike, but pull together to get kids to classes at all schools.

"I think relatives should be calling parents and uncles and aunts, everyone come out and use your cars to get these children to school," said Joyner.