With building closings, new construction and school relocations all on the horizon, the School District of Philadelphia is seeking community input on how it should move forward.

Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. invited Philadelphia residents to a series of listening sessions that he said will help shape the master facilities planning process for the school system, which now has 216 schools.

On average, the school district is 73 years old; the oldest building, Francis Scott Key Elementary in South Philadelphiawas built in 1889. More than 200 district schools were built before 1978.

” READ MORE: Philly is beginning a process that will likely lead to school closings, new buildings. Here’s what you should know.

“Furthermore, the capacity of our facilities far exceeds the current number of students,” Watlington wrote in a message to the community sent out Tuesday. (The school system’s buildings hold 180,000 students. About 116,000 are being educated.)

The district has around $8 billion in unmet facilities needs.

How to participate

Between Monday and November 23, the district will hold eight in-person sessions around the city. Another 11 sessions will take place virtually. (Officials said four more in-person sessions will be scheduled.)

Registration is encouraged but not required. Officials said they want members of the public to answer key questions, including: What role, if any, should our schools play in supporting our communities? What is your criteria for a school building to function at its current capacity? What are the values ​​by which these decisions should be made?

Watlington said public participation is vital.

“As a district, our goal is to develop a facilities plan that addresses the condition and use of our facilities in a way that improves academic outcomes and supports communities,” the superintendent wrote. “As a result, we will have the ability to offer more rigorous academic offerings; increasing access to kindergarten; increasing access to high quality arts, music and physical education; improving career and technical education (CTE) opportunities; and to maximize the use of our school buildings.”

In-person sessions

1. Monday, November 4, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., PATH, 1919 Cottman Ave.

2. Saturday, November 9, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Lovett Memorial Library, 6945 Germantown Ave.

3. Saturday, November 9, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Crane Community Center, 1001 Vine St.

4. Wednesday, November 13, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Finley Recreation Center, 7701 Mansfield Ave.

5. Saturday, November 16, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., Southwest CDC, 6328 Paschall Ave.

6. Monday, November 18, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Indiana House, 2935 N. Second St.

7. Saturday, November 23, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Greater Olney Library, 5501 N. Fifth St.

8. Saturday, November 23, 13:30 – 15:30, Bridesburg Recreation Center, 4625 Richmond St.

Virtual sessions

1. Thursday, November 7, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m

2. Friday, November 8, 8:30 – 10:00

3. Friday, November 8, noon – 1 p.m.

4. Monday, November 11, 17:30 – 19:30

5. Tuesday, November 12, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m

6. Thursday, November 14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

7. Tuesday, November 19, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m (Subject: Safety and Emergency Response and Transportation)

8. Thursday, November 21, 18.00 – 19.00 (Subject: Career and Technical Education and Career-Related Learning)

9. Friday, November 22, 8:30 – 10:00

10. Monday, December 2, 18:00 – 19:30 (Topic: Pre-K and Early Learning)

11. Tuesday, December 3, 18.00 – 19.00 (Subject: Access to Arts, Music and Physical Education)

Officials did not give a firm timeline on the facilities process, but said it is expected to be completed within the next three years.