City and school district officials have  reached an agreement to keep gyms and theaters in public schools open on afternoons and weekends. Cost-cutting plans announced amid the district’s $61 million shortfall included closing the facilities at the end of the school day.

Forty-eight schools will keep their extra-curricular doors open after hours through Saturday, March 17, according to Thursday’s announcement from the city. Twenty-five of those schools are in the Northeast: continue reading »

Meetings will be held this month at Northeast and Lincoln high schools to review the criteria for the new superintendent of the Philadelphia School District. Image/Google Maps

Two meetings have been scheduled in the Northeast this month to discuss the search for the new superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia.

Former superintendent Arlene Ackerman was bought out last year following months of internal conflict and accusations, and her second-in-command, Leroy Nunnery, was named interim superintendent. continue reading »

Northeast High School. Image/Google Maps

Public schools in Northeast Philadelphia use about 94 percent of their available space. That’s more than the 67 percent most School District of Philadelphia facilities use and more than the 80 percent the district confers.

The overcrowding issue was a big one for school officials and parents who attended a meeting earlier this month at Northeast High School. It’s one of 17 the district is holding following the release of its facilities master plan, and the second in the Northeast. continue reading »

900-block of Franklin Mills Circle Image/Google Maps

UPDATE: The third victim has been identified as 17-year-old Christopher Alcalde of  Summerdale and a Northeast High School tennis player. He and the driver were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Authorities have identified the driver of a Wednesday night crash that killed three people near Franklin Mills Mall.

According to reports, Anthony Christensen of Bensalem, Bucks County was speeding when the car hit a barrier and flipped over on the 900-block of Franklin Mills Circle. The female passenger has been identified as Lucrecia Santamaria. continue reading »

The School District of Philadelphia recommends grade reconfigurations for Stearne School in Frankford and Lawton School in Wissinoming.

The School District of Philadelphia announced at Wednesday School Reform Commission meeting the recommended closure of nine city schools and reconfigurations to 17 others.

None of those closures are meant for Northeast schools, but two are part of the grade reconfigurations outlined in the district’s facilities master plan. Though specific plans for the schools haven’t been made clear, Henry W. Lawton School in Wissinoming and Allen M. Stearne School in Frankford both need reconfigurations, according to the district. continue reading »

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released its annual list of Persistently Dangerous Schools.

While the School District of Philadelphia cut its number of dangerous schools by almost half in the last year, 10 high schools remain on the list. And four of them are in the Northeast.

Fels, Frankford, Lincoln and Northeast high schools all meet the state qualifications for the list, based on the variety and number of violent incidents among students during the school year. These four were on the 2011-2012 list, and all made the list in 2009-2010. Harding Middle School also made the 2009-10 list, but has since dropped off.

Credit: All About Jazz

George “Butch” Ballard accomplished many things in his 92 years, for which he was honored last fall in the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame.

Ballard died Saturday after a life spent in Frankford and devoted to music.

The jazz legend is survived by his wife of 67 years, the sounds of the Butch Ballard Trio and memories in Frankford — grew up in Plum Street, went to Harding and Northeast and was a Democratic ward leader. continue reading »

The Northeast High community is in mourning after basketball coach Bob DiFlorio died last week. The 57-year-old drowned in Churchville, and was found three days after he went missing, according to a report by the Northeast Times.

Foul play is not suspected, no suicide note was found and toxicology reports are pending. continue reading »

Jeanette Hibbs took a pass in the flat and with a few helpful blocks ripped off a 20-yard run before being pushed out of bounds during an April 2nd game at Northeast High School against the New York Sharks. Photo by Bill Achuff

This game recap submitted by the Philadelphia Liberty Belles. Continue reading for photos of the season home opener against the New York Sharks.

What a difference  a week makes. Last week the Philadelphia Liberty Belles struggled defensively and had a hard time getting their offense going in a 34-20 set back to the New York Sharks. On Saturday night at Northeast High School’s Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium the Liberty Belles(1-1) bounced back in convincing fashion dominating the visiting New England Nightmare (0-2) 52-0. continue reading »

An early morning watermain break in Rhawnhurst rerouted traffic as water and mud filled the street.

The break occurred where Summerdale Avenue and Langdon Street change names near the intersection of Faunce Street behind Northeast High School. continue reading »