(Philadelphia, PA - September 19, 2017) -

HUD Sec. Ben Carson (2nd from left), PHA President & CEO
Kelvin Jeremiah, Philadelphia School Supt. William Hite, State Rep.
Donna Bullock, and City Council President Darrell Clarke cut the
ribbon at grand opening ceremonies for Vaux Big Picture High
School. Vaux Big Picture High School is the City's newest college
preparatory

Mayor Jim Kenney, Council President Darrell
Clarke, PHA President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah, HUD Secretary Ben
Carson, and School Supt. William Hite pose with Vaux Big Picture
High School student Ilyasha Eiland who received a T-Mobile tablet
at grand opening ceremonies for the school. Vaux Big Picture
High School is the City's newest college preparato
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) joined with the School
District of Philadelphia today to celebrate the opening of Vaux Big
Picture High School, the City's newest college preparatory school
and part of PHA's Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan for the
Sharswood neighborhood.
"As we have said since our efforts toward this opening began two
years ago, a high quality neighborhood school is critically
important if Sharswood is to become a neighborhood of choice," said
PHA President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah. "This school has the
potential to significantly change the lives of its students and the
community in which they live."
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which
provides PHA with most of its funding approved the expenditure on
the school renovation.
"This is a great day, a day of joy and expectation and
fulfillment. It is a day to dream. The opening of a
school is a promise: that parents and teachers will pass on
their knowledge and wisdom to a new generation. It is a
testament to our beliefs, our hopes, and our courage. We
witness the future," said HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, who joined
in the opening celebration as part of an overall tour of the
Sharswood community. "So, I congratulate the students, parents,
teachers, staff, and board of trustees. And, I congratulate
Philadelphia. Vaux High School will become a place of
excellence, a school of scholarship, and achievement. And, I thank
the Philadelphia Housing Authority for their investment in this
high school."
"What we see here today with the opening of the new Vaux High
School represents the kind of great thing we can accomplish when
multiple entities work together with one goal," said Mayor Jim
Kenney. "I congratulate PHA, the School District, Big Picture and
HUD for the roles they played in making this high quality
neighborhood school a reality."
"In Philly, we are building -- not just schools and structures,
but strong futures for our youth, regardless of who they are or
where they live," Council President Darrell L. Clarke said.
"I am so proud of the way these partners and residents triaged this
community, and built a mold-breaking public school that cities
across the country will replicate. Vaux is now a full-service
public school for students and the Sharswood community. Let's all
be proud of what we've accomplished here, and never again doubt
that when we commit our hearts and minds, we will overcome the
greatest adversity."
"Vaux Big Picture represents our continued efforts to bring high
quality schools close to where children live," said Dr. William R.
Hite, Superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia.
"Students will truly receive a unique educational experience by
learning through internships and engaging in project-based
learning, ultimately better preparing them for college and career.
We are excited to partner with Big Picture, PHA and the PFT to
bring this enriching option back to the community."
Vaux Big Picture High School represents a unique partnership
among PHA, nationally acclaimed education innovator Big Picture
Learning and the School District of Philadelphia. It is a
District-managed neighborhood high school, operated by Big Picture,
with educators represented by the Philadelphia Federation of
Teachers.
"The hallmark of any successful school is a strong partnership
between educators, parents, administrators and community partners,"
said Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan,
"The PFT is proud to join PHA and Big Picture Learning to ensure
that Vaux High School provides the Sharswood neighborhood's
students a top-notch education."
PHA completed the first phase of renovation work this summer,
which covered approximately 68,000 square feet or 30% of the total
school surface with an estimated price tag of over $5.7
million. The rehab effort covered 10 classrooms, a
multi-purpose room, administrative offices, cafeteria, health
partner suite, gymnasium and locker rooms, restrooms, circulation
areas (entry vestibules, corridors, stairs), support service areas
and building systems upgrades ( boiler, electrical, pump rooms).
When all phases of the renovation work are completed, PHA will have
invested $10-15 million.
In addition to its investment in the building, PHA is providing
an annual subsidy of up to $500 per student. The Philadelphia
School Partnership, Lenfest Foundation; Barra Foundation; Centene
Foundation and Santander Bank Foundation provided financial support
for school planning and for the first year of operation. All
students are also receiving tablets from T-Mobile.
By late June, all 126 available spaces during the college prep
school's first year of operation were filled with 100 more students
on the waiting list. The school has a staff of seven teachers and
two special education teachers with a homeroom class ratio of 18 to
1.
Eventually, Vaux Big Picture High School will have just over 500
students total. Seventy-five percent of the students enrolled are
PHA residents while 95% come from the school's catchment area. The
numbers indicate that the school is serving the families and
students that it was intended to serve.
"Big Picture Philadelphia is honored to be a part of the School
District of Philadelphia's goal of providing a great school in
every neighborhood and the Philadelphia Housing Authority's
tremendous community development vision for Sharswood," stated Big
Picture Philadelphia executive director David Bromley. "We are
excited to watch our student centered, real world learning
educational approach take life at Vaux Big Picture High School and
look forward to watching the growth of our founding 126 students as
they take ownership of their learning and lives!"
Vaux High School was originally built in the 1930's as a junior
high school, later becoming a senior high school. The old Vaux High
School was closed in 2013 because of declining enrollment and poor
academics. PHA purchased the building from the District in mid-May
for $2 million and reopened the school as part of the agency's
transformation plan for the Sharswood/Blumberg neighborhood, which
had been left without any neighborhood schools.
The magnificent building is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.