The Role of Business

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, in partnership with the Penn Project for Civic Engagement, will host a series of community forums as part of the School District of Philadelphia's search for a new superintendent.

The forums will seek community input on leadership characteristics the School Reform Commission (SRC) has identified to guide the selection of the next leader of the district. The outcomes of these discussions will be reported to the superintendent search committee to inform the selection process.

 "We want to give community members the opportunity to inform this critical decision, which will have a significant impact on the quality of education our children receive," said Jill Michal, President and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

"At these forums, community members will express their views of the leadership model the SRC envisions for the new superintendent and reach common ground to inform the search committee's deliberations," added Harris Sokoloff, faculty director of the Penn Project for Civic Engagement.

The meetings will be held throughout February. Event times range from morning to evening to accommodate community members. No RSVP is required, and all forums are open to the public.

The public is encouraged to attend any of the following meetings:

• Wednesday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m. at Mastery Gratz HS (1798 W. Hunting Park Ave)
• Saturday, February 4th at 9:00 a.m. at Roxborough HS (6498 Ridge Ave)
• Saturday, February 4th at 1:00 p.m. at Lincoln HS (3201 Ryan Ave)
• Monday, February 6th at 6:00 p.m. at West Philadelphia HS (4901 Chestnut Street)
• Wednesday, February 8th at 6:30 p.m. at Strawberry Mansion HS (3133 Ridge Ave)
• Thursday, February 9th at 6:30 p.m. at Edison HS (151 W. Luzerne St)
• Monday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m. at Northeast HS (1601 Cottman Ave)
• Thursday, February 16th at 6:30 p.m. at Bartram HS (2401 67th St)
• Saturday, February 18th at 9:00 a.m. at South Philadelphia HS (2101 S. Broad St)
• Tuesday, February 21st at 6:30 p.m. at Leeds Middle School (110 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave)

About United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people's lives. United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measure the results. United Way is advancing the common good in southeastern Pennsylvania by focusing on education for children, income for families and health for seniors. For more information about United Way, please visit: www.LIVEUNITEDsepa.org.

Penn Project for Civic Engagement

The Penn Project for Civic Engagement develops, implements and facilitates public deliberations on important policy issues.  We bring stakeholders together to identify and act on problems in their community, business or organization.  Our structured dialogues unite stakeholder values with expert knowledge and leadership to produce momentum for real solutions.   For more information about the Penn Project for Civic Engagement, please visit:  http://www.gse.upenn.edu/pcel/programs/ppce.

SOURCE United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania