The Philadelphia Student Union and the Media Mobilizing Project are hosting a screening on Thursday of short films students created in response to the school budget crisis.

Student Union members have been working with three filmmakers since January. The collaboration resulted in three short films about school closures, the “struggle for a high quality education in Philadelphia” and the school-to-prison pipeline. This is the first time these films will be screened and the public is invited. High school age youth and PSU sustainers will be admitted free of charge. Others are asked for a donation ranging from $5 to $20. There will also be pizza on hand.

The screening runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Media Mobilizing Project headquarters at 4233 Chestnut St. Get tickets here.

As always, we’re sharing information on the upcoming Kindergarten open houses at assorted West Philly schools. The list has been compiled by the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools.

A. D. Harrington School
5300-34 Baltimore Ave., 19143
(215) 471 – 2914
www.philasd.org/schools/harrington
Open House: Call for date and time

Alain Locke School
4550 Haverford Ave., 19139
(215) 823 – 8202
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/l/locke
Open House: Tuesday, May 13. Starts at 9:30 a.m.

B. B. Comegys School
5100 Greenway Ave., 19143
(215) 727 – 2162
Open House: Call for date and time

Henry C. Lea School
4700 Locust St., 19139
(215) 471 – 2915
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/l/lea
Open House: Thursday, May 15, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Martha Washington Academics
766 N. 44th St., 19104
(215) 823 – 8203
www.philasd.org/schools/marthawashington
Open House: Tuesday, May 13. Starts at 4:00 p.m.

Morton McMichael School
3543 Fairmount Ave., 19104
(215) 823-8272
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/m/mcmichael
Open House: Call for date and time

Penn Alexander School
4209 Spruce St., 19104
(215) 823 – 5465
www.philasd.org/schools/pennalexander
Open House: Tuesday, May 13, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Samuel B. Huey School
5200 Pine St., 19143
(215) 471 – 2901
Open House: Tuesday, May 13, 9:30-10:15 a.m.

Samuel Powel School
301 N. 36th St., 19104
(215) 823 – 8201
www.philasd.org/schools/powel
Open House: Friday, May 16, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Two West Philly schools are holding community forums this week and your participation and input are important.

– Greening Lea, a project of West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools (WPCNS), is at the center of discussion on Wednesday, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Henry C. Lea School Auditorium (4700 Locust, enter through the small playground on Locust). Participants will be asked about their vision for Lea’s new playground being designed by SALT Design Studio. The studio seeks input from parents, students, teachers, and the community on the project.

Greening Lea began the process in early 2012 with a master plan and vision to revitalize the Lea schoolyards. Your help is needed as they are moving forward with the first stage of the project. Please answer the following questions and email your responses to: jscott1225@verizon.net or bring them to tonight’s meeting:

• What is ONE thing you love about your neighborhood?
• What is ONE thing you don’t like about your neighborhood?
• If you could make a change, what is the ONE thing you would change in your neighborhood?

More information on Greening Lea and tonight’s meeting can be found on the WPCNS website.

– On Thursday, April 3, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Paul Robeson High School for Human Services (4125 Ludlow St) will conduct its first Neighborhood Summit. The purpose of the summit is to determine the best way Paul Robeson High School can join with parents and community partners to improve the culture of the school and its community. All are invited! The format will be “chat and chew,” with informal discussions led by students and faculty.

As Philadelphia City Council budget negotiations begin to heat up, so are public school activists.

For more information on the proposed budget and what might have to be tweaked to get adequate funding for schools (including an extension of the 1 percent increase in the city sales tax beyond July), go here, here or here. Also, info on education and the state budget is here. Needless to say, school funding in both budgets will be a sticking point and public school advocates are getting ready.

Here are a couple of ways to get involved:

• The groups Public Citizens for Children and Youth, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and  Education Voters of Pennsylvania have planned a “Day of Action” on Thursday, March 13 to pressure City Council members to extend the city sales tax increase. They are meeting on the 4th floor of City Hall at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Community members are encouraged to stop by.

• Parents from the Penn Alexander School and other West Philadelphia community members are holding an “education advocacy planning session” on Thursday, March 20. The meeting will include an overview of information on the district’s budget deficit, city and state funding sources and instructions on how to call and visit elected officials. The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. in the Penn Alexander cafeteria. Enter through the doors near the blacktop on 43rd Street between Locust and Spruce.

• If you’re on Twitter, another good way to keep up with school news is by search #PHLed.

Here’s a list of kindergarten open houses scheduled at local elementary schools in March. The list has been compiled by the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools. Date correction: The kindergarten open house at Penn Alexander School will take place on March 4 (not March 3).

A. D. Harrington School
5300-34 Baltimore Ave., 19143
(215) 471-2914
www.philasd.org/schools/harrington
Open House: March 4, 9:00-9:54 a.m.
Note: Please come to main building (address above)

Alain Locke School
4550 Haverford Ave., 19139
(215) 823-8202
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/l/locke
Open House: March 4, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

B. B. Comegys School
5100 Greenway Ave., 19143
(215) 727-2162
Open House: March 4, Call the school for exact time

Henry C. Lea School
4700 Locust St., 19139
(215) 471-2915
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/l/lea
Open House: March 4, 8:45 – 10:00 a.m.

Martha Washington Academics
766 N. 44th St., 19104
(215) 823-8203
www.philasd.org/schools/marthawashington
Open House: March 4, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Morton McMichael School
3543 Fairmount Ave., 19104
(215) 823-8272
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/m/mcmichael
Open House: March 4, Call the school for exact time

Penn Alexander School
4209 Spruce St., 19104
(215) 823-5465
www.philasd.org/schools/pennalexander
Open House: March 3 March 4, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Samuel B. Huey School
5200 Pine St., 19143
(215) 471-2901
Facebook page
Open House: Participation unconfirmed, call the school

Samuel Powel School
301 N. 36th St., 19104
(215) 823-8201
www.philasd.org/schools/powel
Open House: March 4, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

A mural at the Alexander Wilson School. (Archived photo).

Drexel’s planned purchase of the University City High School/Drew Elementary School site is one of four tentative deals the School District announced yesterday.

The West Philly-based property developer Orens Brothers was named the finalist to redevelop the Alexander Wilson School property at 46th and Woodland. As we reported earlier this month, they plan to build a residential complex on the site. Orens Brothers has developed several properties in the neighborhood, including the infamous Croydon building.

The district’s chief operating officer, Fran Burns, said during a meeting to announce Drexel’s plans for the University City High site that the district will make about $23 million on the sales of seven properties that are currently pending. The University City High site contains three properties (the high school, Drew and the affiliated Walnut Center).

Finalists for other properties include:

• Shaw Middle School (54th and Warrington) to Mastery Charter School. Mastery’s Hardy Williams High School is already housed in that building.

• Douglas High School in Port Richmond to Maritime Academy Charter School.

Harrison Elementary School (10th and Thompson) has not been sold. Some 21 more district properties closed last year will be for sale in the coming years.