A Philadelphia commission has voted to close 23 of the city’s public schools, around one-tenth of its total. Citing a massive budget crunch, the panel rejected the district’s proposal to close just four of the 27 schools up for review. At least 19 protesters were arrested at the public session before the vote, including Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers. Hundreds more rallied against the closures outside, chanting and blocking a major road. The school district says the closings are needed to close a budget deficit of $1.35 billion over five years. Opponents say the closures will further overcrowd the education system and threaten students forced to walk through dangerous neighborhoods farther from home.