Some say it began with a racially motivated fight between a group of black and white George Washington High School students in early January.

Others contend that it stems from frustration at perceived interference by officials of the Washington Cluster Office in the school's day-to-day functions -- specifically an incident involving enrollment in a specialized course at Washington.

Still others say that neither incident has any bearing on the matter.

Whatever the catalyst, the recent actions of some people affiliated with the Somerton high school seemingly demonstrate a level of dissatisfaction with policies of the School District of Philadelphia, as well as concerns about the district's solvency.

The Times has learned that, in the last several months, a contingent of adults with links to Washington have begun to explore the possibility of having the school declared an independent institution.

An amendment tacked on to state pension legislation that Gov. Tom Ridge signed into law on May 17 created the independent-school status.

It outlines the procedure by which a public school can become independent of its authorizing agency -- in this case, the school district.

"This section of the bill would permit a school district, upon approval of its local board of school directors, to designate any school within the district as an 'independent school' operating under an agreement with the board," the legislation reads. " . . . The board of school directors (board of education, in this case) establishes the governing body of the independent school that is to include representatives of parents and teachers. The governing body has the authority to decide all matters related to its operation pursuant to the agreement with the board, and is relieved from certain mandates in a manner similar to that granted charter schools."

THERE HAS TO BE A VOTE

There are, however, distinct differences between an independent school and a charter school.

Though they receive taxpayer money like other public schools, charter schools are free to make their own rules and curriculum, adopt admission standards, and set enrollment numbers.

But a public school can transform itself into a charter school only if 50 percent of both the faculty and parents of students vote for the change in the form of a referendum.

To become an independent school, a public school must gain the approval of the Board of Education.

The movement at Washington has not reached that stage. At present, it is merely in the information-gathering phase.

Identifying the driving force of this effort is difficult to determine because some people identified as proponents were reluctant to talk with the Times.

What is known is that shortly after the law was passed in May, copies of it were distributed at the school. Those documents apparently caused such a stir among faculty members that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers union saw fit to get involved.

Two hurriedly organized meetings were held at Washington just before the conclusion of the school year.

"On Wednesday, June 13, we held an informational meeting. There had been some discussion at the school. There were some teachers who had called us about it. That's why we held this meeting," explained PFT staff representative Dee Tancredi, who presided at that session. "At that meeting, we wanted to clarify what an independent school is. It was something people wanted to know more about. Mainly because there was a feeling that only a small group of people in the building that were favoring it had the knowledge about it."

A second meeting on the topic was held two days later at Washington.

"That day an informal vote was taken," she added. "Once people were informed about it, they were not in favor of it. It was absolutely the reverse. There were so many people who said they had absolutely no interest, they wanted to vote to make a strong statement against it."

Of the 165 people who voted that day, June 15, 156 opposed the idea.

For the record, the union officially opposes the independent-school law.

OFF TO HARRISBURG

The following week, a contingent of about 10 people from Washington High traveled to Harrisburg to meet with state Secretary of Education Charles Zogby to learn more about the law.

The June 21 meeting was scheduled by state Rep. George Kenney (R-17Oth dist.), according to Beth Gaydos, press secretary for the state Department of Education.

Kenney described the session's purpose as informational.

"First and foremost, this was an opportunity for those people in my district who are looking for something different in education to find out more about the independent-school law," said the Northeast lawmaker, noting that he voted in favor of the legislation. "There are a handful of interested parents and teachers looking for ways to improve the quality of education at George Washington. And however we can achieve that, I will assist them."

One of the interested parents at the session was former Washington Home and School Association president Sherri Perlman, whose two children are Washington graduates.

"The reason we went to Harrisburg is that when we were given the paperwork we didn't understand it. The meeting with Zogby was scheduled because the law is very hard to understand," said Perlman. "It's a very open-ended law. You can read so many thing into it, that's why we wanted to understand exactly what it said."

Joining Perlman at that session, the Times was able to confirm, were current Washington Home and School co-presidents Adrienne Silverstein and Joy Kligman. The other participants were not identified.

Both women said the independent status could reap benefits for the school.

"With a little more control of our own school, to not be told what to do and when to do it, the intelligent, education-oriented people could make decisions about the school on their own," said Silverstein. "Washington is such a wonderful high school, but it doesn't always get a fair shake from the district."

Added Kligman: "Every school should have the ability to make their own decisions for their school."

THEY WANT SOME INPUT

Parents who support the independent school idea are displeased with the district policy that prevents administrators and faculty from exerting more control over their local school -- citing a recent snafu as a glaring example of that alleged meddling.

In May, an innocuous enrollment oversight for a select educational program at Washington -- an oversight that was corrected by the cluster office -- enraged some parents.

According to school district sources, an instructor at Washington accidentally altered the admission standards for the program, thus preventing eligible students from participation.

The mistake apparently was spotted at the cluster level and changed, causing resentment between some at Washington High and the cluster office.

Ultimately, the district had to step in to settle the dispute, said a district spokesman.

The school also continues to sport the scars of public perception, a result of the lingering memory of a Jan. 8 fight at the school between a group of black and white students.

Black students involved in the racially motivated altercation initially were charged by police with criminal offenses. District Attorney Lynne Abraham later dropped those charges because of a lack of evidence.

Some school sources suggested that the independent-school movement at Washington is a convenient cover for a plan to gain further control over enrollment and limit the number of minority students.

"I think that's absurd," Kenney said in response to such claims. "If this happens, nothing changes at Washington. The feeder patterns are still the same, and they can't just pick and choose which students they want. What this does is give a school more localized control in the building and between teachers and parents who set the tone of education."

Other concerns that exist have little to do with the independent-school law. They focus on the instability of the financially ailing school district and its more than $200-million deficit.

Mayor John F. Street and Gov. Ridge recently agreed to establish a 90-day window in which state auditors will examine the school district and develop strategies to improve its fortunes.

Action on a pending lawsuit that the city filed against the state, alleging that the school funding formula is racially biased, has been suspended during the period.

If a compromise can't be reached, the city likely will proceed with its lawsuit and the state may hire a firm to assume control of the School District of Philadelphia.

The already-unclear independent-school law would be further convoluted if any of those things transpires, leaving those who support the proposal with more questions than before.

Still, proponents of the idea say that no real timetable is in place for the creation of a proposal and its implementation, if approved -- regardless of developments in the school district.

"I haven't even talked about it since we were in Harrisburg. And I can't really go to the parents yet because it's really more important, I would think, for the teachers and administrators to really know more about it before parents have an impact," said Kligman, the Home and School co-president.

Kenney predicts that any real movement on the idea is still at least a year away, but said, "If a plan makes sense for the community, students and teachers, I will endorse it."