The School Reform Commission voted 3-1 at its meeting Thursday to close M.H. Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia, despite the pleas of the large crowd of students, parents, teachers and administrators in attendance.
The commission voted last month to shut 23 other public schools at the end of this academic year.
Critics say the impending closures will irreparably damage dozens of neighborhoods and further fuel a student exodus from the district.
School district officials say the changes are necessary. Officials had to borrow $300 million to make ends meet this year, and the district will run a nearly $1.4 billion deficit over five years without a radical overhaul.
