SIGN THIS PETITION

  • Outside U.S.
    Why are you signing? Add a reason (optional)
    By signing, you accept Change.org's terms of service and privacy policy.
Donation of the R.S. Walton Elementary School building to the Dream Field Academy, Phila., PA.
  1. Signatures
    150 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Superintendent of Schools, School District of Philadelphia (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Superintendent of Schools, School District of Philadelphia (Dr. Leroy David Nunery II)
      • City Councilman (Darryll L. Clarke)

Dream Field Academy is a non-profit, grass-roots organization; we cannot afford to rent or lease the building located at 28th & Huntingdon Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19132.   We are asking that a donation of the building be made to Dream Field Academy. The building, located in North Philadelphia, has been vacant since Barry Elementary School exited it more than four calendar years ago. The property is now being used as a dumping ground and for other illegal activities in a community that is in dire need of quality and effective programs.

 

Dream Field Academy, along with its affiliates of other community organizations and faith base organizations, will be able to provide effective programs to a neighborhood that is decimated with violence, an increase in youth and adolescents not completing school, thereby increasing the dropout rolls and poverty. As you are well aware from the stories and statistics, young adults who drop out of school are much more likely to turn to crime and violence because of their feelings of hopelessness.

 

That is why this generous donation will help Dream Field Academy to ensure that we can continue to provide quality educational projects and enrichment for the community that is in need. These are services that the Board of Education used to provide before all of the major funding cutbacks and can no longer afford to provide.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Donation of the R.S. Walton Elementary School building to the Dream Field Academy, Phila., PA.

Dear Dr. Leroy David Nunery II

September 30, 2011


On October 5, 2009, I first humbly requested the assistance of Dr Arlene Ackerman in a matter that would make a positive difference in the quality of life for hundreds of young people in the North Philadelphia community.

I proposed that the School District of Philadelphia donate the R.S. Walton Elementary School Building located at 28th & Huntingdon Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19132, to Dream Field Academy. The building, located in North Philadelphia, has been vacant since Barry Elementary School exited it more than four calendar years ago. The property is now being used as a dumping ground and for other illegal activities in a community that is in dire need of quality and effective programs.

Unfortunately, Dr. Nunery, in that time span Dr. Ackerman never responded.

I had also written Bill Fox Jr., Director of Real Property Management several times from 2006-2008 requesting the “donation” of the property, but he continued to inform me that the building at the time was “not for sale.”

R. S. Walton Elementary School is a beautiful old building that resembles an 18th century castle. The school has three floors with 7 to 8 rooms on each floor. It has several fire towers and a cement school yard.

R.S. Walton Elementary School can house over 600 people. If the building is donated, Dream Field Academy, along with its affiliates of other community organizations and faith base organizations, will be able to provide effective programs to a neighborhood that is decimated with violence, an increase in youth and adolescents not completing school, thereby increasing the dropout rolls and poverty. As you are well aware from the stories and statistics, young adults who drop out of school are much more likely to turn to crime and violence because of their feelings of hopelessness.

R.S. Walton Elementary School holds special memories for me. You see, Dr. Nunery , I attended this institution as a child from kindergarten through sixth grade from September 1976 to June 1982. The academic enrichment, the support, and love that the faculty and administration provided me as a youth is a tradition that we could revive and provide to a community that has been infected by illiteracy, poverty, and apathy.

Dream Field Academy is a non-profit, grass-roots organization, and we cannot afford to rent or lease the building. That is why this generous donation will help Dream Field Academy to ensure that we can continue to provide quality educational projects and enrichment for the community that is in need. These are services that the Board of Education used to provide before all of the major funding cutbacks and can no longer afford to provide.

Will you help me?

If you require additional information of the services we provide in Philadelphia, please feel free to contact me at 215-715-0355.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your cooperation regarding this matter.

Sincerely,


Anthony P. Johnson, Founder
Dream Field Academy

Email: johnsonanthony99@hotmail.com

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/dreamfieldacademy/




**PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION AND SUPPORT US IN OUR EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE the R. S. Walton Elementary School, 28th & Huntingdon Street, Philadelphia, PA as the future home for the Dream Field Academy.

Thank you all for your continued support.

"180th Watchdog Coalition"
Anthony P. Johnson, Organizer

Terri L. Willmott, Communications Director
180watchdogcoalition@gmail.com

[Your name]