FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 22, 2014 Contact: Inez Henderson-Purnell (215) 909-7320 WPDC1333@gmail.com

COMMUNITY COALITION WITHDRAWS ACTION BLOCKING SALE OF WILLIAM PENN Struggle for High Quality Traditional Public Schools in Philadelphia Continues

Philadelphia—Today, the William Penn Development Coalition (WPDC) withdrew its against the transfer of the deed for the William Penn High School Complex. The lis pendens effectively blocked the sale of the school to Temple University. Today’s action comes in the wake of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s denial of WPDC’s application for injunctive relief. “We fought the good fight,” said Inez Henderson-Purnell, President of the William Penn Development Coalition. “With this action, the sale of William Penn to Temple University will go forward. But the fight to save William Penn is broader than one school. William Penn has become a metaphor in the struggle to ensure our children have access to high quality traditional public schools.” Priscilla R. Woods, WPDC Treasurer, added: “William Penn is a cautionary tale about what happens when a school is deprived of resources. The School District of Philadelphia’s disinvestment led to the death of the 1st Governor’s School of Excellence at William Penn, which was the best equipped educational facility of its day with five academic academies. “We now see this happening districtwide. In September, schools will open with even fewer resources than ‘the inadequate and insufficient resources schools had last year.’ We will continue to fight for our children and our beloved Yorktown community.” About William Penn Development Coalition: The William Penn Development Coalition is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of Yorktown and surrounding North Philadelphia community stakeholders, William Penn High School alumni and education advocates. Our mission is to ensure the youth of North Philadelphia and the City at large have access to a high quality public education. For more information, visit Facebook.com/WPDC1333.

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WILLIAM PENN DEVELOPMENT COALITION

1409 KINGS PLACE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19122

(215) 909-7320 / WPDC1333@GMAIL.COM