by KYW's Mike DeNardo
Philadelphia's city controller says his inspection has turned up unsafe conditions in a number of Philadelphia schools.
Leaky roofs. Fire doors blocked or chained shut (above). Exposed wiring. City controller Alan Butkovitz (right) says his inspection of 19 Philadelphia school buildings showed no improvement from his first survey two years ago:
"If you take a large enough risk for a long enough period of time times enough children, there are going to be tragedies that result."
Jim Lewis, School District VP for facilities, says the city's school buildings are safe and the district is using its limited resources to make repairs:
"Our schools are 70 years old, average age. Some of them need some freshening up. Paint and plaster, a roof leaks, you've got some peeling paint. Yes, you can walk into any of our schools and you'll see that. And we address them as quickly as we can."
(Butkovitz photo by KYW's Mike DeNardo)
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