Press

University of Penn pledges $100 million to School District of Philadelphia | Philadelphia Tribune

The University of Pennsylvania announced Tuesday that it will pledge $100 million to the School District of Philadelphia, making the private contribution the largest in the School District’s history. Penn’s $100 million contribution to the District will be $10 million annually for 10 years. The money will be used to remediate environmental hazards, including asbestos and lead in the public school buildings.

Penn pledges $100 million to Philadelphia Public Schools to address environmental hazards | The Daily Pennsylvanian

Penn will contribute $100 million to the School District of Philadelphia over the next 10 years, the largest private contribution in the school district’s history. The announcement comes as the University faces widespread criticism from both students and faculty for its refusal to make Payments in Lieu of Taxes, known as PILOTs, to the city of Philadelphia.

Penn to donate $100 million to Philadelphia School District to help with asbestos, lead abatement | Philadelphia Inquirer

The University of Pennsylvania will donate $100 million over 10 years to the Philadelphia School District to remediate environmental hazards, including asbestos and lead, the school announced Tuesday. It’s the largest private contribution to the School District in its history and comes as the district, like other organizations, is reeling from the economic fallout of the coronavirus.

How Drexel can lead Philly to an equitable future | The Triangle

Despite its massive footprint in West Philadelphia, Drexel University does not pay any property taxes on the land it occupies. Despite the fact that the university is technically a non-profit, its revenue grows every year. Other universities in Philadelphia, including the University of Pennsylvania and Jefferson University, are situated similarly.

Pa. schools need $4.6 billion to close education gaps between affluent and poor districts | The Daily Pennsylvanian

Pennsylvania’s public schools need an additional $4.6 billion to close education gaps between the most affluent and poorest schools, according to a new analysis. In recent years, members of the Penn community have called on the University to make Payments in Lieu of Taxes to support the Philadelphia School District and shrink the education gap.

Phila. Councilmember, Penn alum Helen Gym urges her alma mater to pay PILOTs amid pandemic | The Daily Pennsylvanian

Second-term City Councilmember and 1993 College graduate Helen Gym, often coined Philadelphia’s “most progressive” Councilmember, has her sights set on a better vision for Philadelphia as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend millions of lives in the city.

Faculty press case for Penn to ante up and support Philly schools | Nonprofit Quarterly

So far, Penn’s trustees have not budged in opposing PILOT payments, but advocates held a press conference earlier this week and are hoping there may be at least some trustee response to their demands at the trustees’ scheduled meeting today, the first time trustees have met since the campaign took off this summer.

Faculty renew push for Penn payments to Philadelphia | Inside Higher Ed

More than 1,000 faculty and staff members at the University of Pennsylvania are calling on the Board of Trustees to pay a portion of what the university would owe in property taxes to the city of Philadelphia if the institution paid property taxes.

UPenn faculty calls on board of trustees to reverse their position on PILOTs at meeting tomorrow | Generocity

More than 1,000 faculty and staff members are urging Penn to pay 40% of what it would owe in property taxes to the Philadelphia public schools as a matter of social, economic and racial justice.

Penn profs push university to pay PILOTS to help Philadelphia schools | Chalkbeat Philadelphia

With the Philadelphia School District facing a potential annual shortfall of $800 million in five years, some faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania are pushing their employer to pay up to $40 million to the city.