HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS/AP) — The presence of protesters may have played a role in forcing Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett to switch venues in Philadelphia Friday morning.

Corbett was scheduled to honor the work of three high schools at Central High School, but as students, parents and others protested outside Central High, Corbett switched locations.

Corbett’s new location was the Bellevue Building on Broad Street.

The visit to Central High was to be Corbett’s first visit as governor to a district-run public school in Philadelphia.

Corbett is set to present the “Governor’s Award for Excellence in Academics” to Carver High School, Central High School and the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School.

Corbett’s visit is part of a campaign to commend high-achieving schools on Pennsylvania’s first-ever performance scores. He was joined by school Superintendent William Hite.

The Philadelphia School District is weathering its worst financial crisis in recent memory and some parents and teachers say it was worsened by Corbett’s budget-balancing cuts to education aid in 2011.

Corbett, a Republican who is running for re-election in November, is critical of teachers’ unions and has worked to advance private, parochial and charter schools.