School District of Philadelphia delays vote on controversial facilities master plan

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A vote planned for Thursday night on the School District of Philadelphia's controversial facilities master plan has been delayed for a week.

The plan includes the closure of 17 schools. The restructuring plan is part of a $3 billion proposal that would modernize 169 school buildings and merge six schools across the city.

READ MORE | Backlash over School District of Philadelphia's revised facilities plan to close 17 schools

The Facilities Master Plan was announced in January to address issues like overcrowding, underutilized schools, and maintenance problems. It has since been revised from closing 20 schools to 17.

But the $3 billion plan has seen intense backlash

On Thursday, protesters gathered on the steps of the school district just before their scheduled meeting.

"I'm glad to see they finally listened and put it off for a short period of time," said Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Arthur Steinberg.

The vote is set for April 30, but some think that falls short.

"In my opinion, that's not going to be enough time to give people the information they require," said Steinberg.

The district said it conducted a comprehensive review of all schools considered for closure.

If the plan is approved, it would go into effect during the 2027-28 school year.