Started in November 2010, daily postings from the Keystone State
Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education
policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and
congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of
Education, Wolf education transition team members, superintendents, school solicitors,
principals, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher
leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations,
education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory
agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via
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These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg
If any of your colleagues would
like to be added to the email list please have them send their name, title and
affiliation to KeystoneStateEdCoalition@gmail.com
PA Ed Policy Roundup for Jan. 30, 2020
The fundamental question should be: Why do taxpayers have
to pay cyber charters the same tuition rates as brick and mortar charters, which
may be twice (or more) than their actual costs?
“Pennsylvania, beset by
post-recession budget deficits, shut down a roughly $300 million-a-year school
construction program (PlanCon) five years ago. That left even the poorest
school districts since then to pay for improvement projects themselves.”
Governor floats plan to attack lead, asbestos in schools
AP By MARC LEVY yesterday
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Motivated by a growing
struggle with health hazards in aging big-city school buildings, Gov. Tom Wolf
unveiled a new $1.1 billion package Wednesday intended to help eliminate lead
and asbestos contamination in Pennsylvania’s public schools. Initiatives in the
package include money in Wolf’s upcoming budget proposal and expanding existing
grant programs. Smaller amounts, primarily in federal funding, could become
available for replacing lead lines in public water systems, testing for lead in
drinking water in schools and child care centers and removing lead paint from
housing and child care centers. One key element would expand the state’s
primary bond-funded redevelopment grant program by $1 billion and make the
money available for lead and asbestos cleanups in schools, although the
proposal runs into a yearslong trend in the Republican-controlled Legislature
of lowering the program’s borrowing cap. Wolf, a Democrat, said the grant
program is the fastest way he has of getting the money out to school districts,
and said every Pennsylvania family and child deserves to live free of asbestos
and lead. “It’s unfortunate that Pennsylvania’s rapid growth took place at a
time when lead and asbestos were widely used,” Wolf told reporters in his
crowded Capitol conference room. “But we have a chance to correct the past and
to build a brighter future for all of us.”
Gov. Wolf calls for $1 billion to tackle lead and
asbestos in schools across Pennsylvania
Inquirer by Cynthia Fernandez, Updated: January
29, 2020- 5:36 PM
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday
proposed using $1 billion in state funding, typically set aside for capital
projects, to remediate lead- and asbestos-tainted schools, an issue that has
been particularly acute in Philadelphia. “Decades ago, well-intentioned
Pennsylvanians constructed our homes, our schools, our water systems, and other
structures out of asbestos and lead because we thought they were harmless,”
Wolf said. “Now we know the serious harm both cause.” The proposal, which comes
as Wolf prepares to unveil his 2020-21 budget next week, would make $1 billion
in grants available to schools through an expansion of the state’s
Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. “I think that’s the magnitude of this
problem, and this is specifically for toxic schools,” Wolf said.
Blogger note: I found this letter from a cyber charter CEO to PA
House members on the website for Pugliese Associates, a lobbying firm. The fundamental question should be: Why do taxpayers
have to pay cyber charters the same tuition rates as brick and mortar charters;
which may be twice (or more) than their actual costs?
Dear House Representatives,
Pugliese Associates Website Author: Dr. James Hanak President, The
Public Cyber Charter School Association (PCCSA) and CEO, PA Leadership Charter
School
As the PA House debates the future of
educational opportunities for K-12 students in the Commonwealth, we hope you
will consider the information contained in the attached document. Myths vs Facts PDF. To stifle
educational opportunities in the 21st Century when more children than ever
before are being educated in charter and cyber charter schools would be a
severe disservice to parents and their 36,000+ Cyber Charter School students
and to the 140,000+ Charter School students. The fundamental question is why
are parents choosing to have their children attend cyber charter schools versus
traditional schools? We believe that there are a myriad of reasons including: a
better education, the ability to progress at the child’s own pace, safety and
more family involvement being key among them. We respectfully encourage you
continue to allow parents and students be the ones who can choose what is the
best educational setting for their children and not government entities.
Blogger note: As noted in the piece following this one, as of
Nov 2017 this school had received a million in diverted tax dollars.
Unwed Pa. teacher fired for being pregnant loses second
bid to get her job back
Judge Hugh A. Jones found the one-year
contract Naiad Reich signed June 14, 2018, to teach at Our Lady of Lourdes
Regional School
PA Post by John Beauge/PennLive JANUARY
29, 2020 | 8:26 AM
(Sunbury) — A Northumberland County judge has
refused to reinstate a Catholic school teacher who was fired for being
pregnant, unwed and with no immediate plans to marry the father. Judge Hugh A. Jones in an opinion made public
Tuesday found the one-year contract Naiad Reich signed June 14, 2018, to teach
at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School near Shamokin provided no guarantee of
future employment.
Reprise November 2015: Lourdes Regional Celebrates $1
Million EITC Milestone & 51% Enrollment Increase
The Diocese of Harrisburg Website November
30, 2017
The numbers tell the story. Five years ago,
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School in Coal Township was in a dire position.
There were 350 students enrolled in the PreK-12 school, and area parishes were
funding 40 percent of its operating budget. The school was losing students
after their eighth and ninth grade year, as tuition costs increased. EITC
funding to support tuition assistance for families was at $14,000. There were
rumors that the school would close. Lourdes needed a lifeline. Working with
school administrators, businessman and 1975 graduate Tony Varano developed a
business plan, which included a push for more companies to get involved in the
EITC program. An acronym for Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit
program, it offers tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to a
scholarship organization, thus assisting families with financial assistance and
retaining – and attracting – students in the school that best meets their
needs. As CEO of DSG, Inc., in Malvern, Pa., Mr. Varano led the charge in
participating in the EITC program and calling forth other businesses to do the
same. To date, his business has contributed $1,061,000.
“One of my favorite suggestions came from a Republican
consultant who offered this: “I think most of them are leaving for health
reasons. People are sick of them and they’re sick of Harrisburg.”
What’s with all these pols running away from office? |
John Baer
By John Baer | For PennLive Today 5:00 AM
Today’s topic is a curiosity. With politics
dominating the news and an electorate that seems especially primed to
participate in Election 2020, we’re seeing a continuing exodus of incumbents at
state and national levels. Curious, no? In Harrisburg, 16 state lawmakers, so
far, say they aren’t seeking reelection this year, according to a count by
PennLive Capitol Bureau Chief (and queen of all that’s worth knowing about
state government) Jan Murphy. In Washington, 39 members of Congress say they
want to go home, according to the current tally by the
political website Ballotpedia. In both
instances, the majority of goodbyes are coming from Republicans: 11 of the 16
in Pa.; 29 of 39 in D.C. Now, one could leap to conclude, aha, it’s Trumpism.
It’s moderate and old-line Republicans in changing districts who fear being
washed away in an anti-Trump wave. Or, it’s true-blue GOPers watching their
party’s brand erased by a president interested solely in his brand. Could be
some of that. But then there’s spend-more-time-with-family or make real money
or pass-the-torch type reasons. And no doubt some just want off the ride, which
used to be fun, in a smooth tunnel of love sort of way, but became a Tornado
Rollercoaster.
Taxpayer-funded charter schools: What are they and why
should you care?
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer January 29,
2020
Pennsylvania’s charter school law is 23 years
old. Yet many questions remain about what charter schools are, who they serve
and why they exist. Here’s what you need to know about the charter school
situation in Lancaster County.
Blogger note: In May 2017, 17% of respondents answered the question,
“What do you think is the most important problem facing Pennsylvania today?” with
“Education”. For the January 2020 poll that “Education” response dropped to
just 6%.
Franklin and Marshall College Poll January 2020
“Navish said the largest increase in spending is a $1.1 million
spike in charter school costs. About $16.4 million was budgeted for
charter/cyber schools. She encouraged families in charter schools to come back
to the district. “Reducing charter school costs will positively impact this
budget,” she said.”
Penn Hills School District’s preliminary budget adopted,
tax increase likely
Trib Live by Michael
DiVittorio Thursday, January 30, 2020 | 12:08 AM
Penn Hills School District officials moved a
step closer to plugging an estimated $6 million budget shortfall and possibly
raising real estate taxes more than 7%. School directors voted 7-0 Wednesday
night to adopt their 2020-21 preliminary budget, which includes a 2.0319-mill
hike and no program cuts. Board members Evelyn Herbert and Kristopher Wiegand
were absent. District Business Manager Eileen Navish said nothing’s set in
stone and she expects to see changes in the proposed spending plan before its
final adoption in June. “This is the very beginning,” she said. The preliminary
budget is posted on the district’s website, phsd.k12.pa.us.
Here's why state didn't release York City School District
from financial recovery
Lindsay C VanAsdalan, York
Dispatch Published 1:15 p.m. ET Jan. 28, 2020 | Updated 12:17 p.m. ET Jan.
29, 2020
York City School District's tax revenue has
not met its expenses in recent years, and the district has relied on its
reserves to buy down its tax rate, according to data from a recent report.
That’s one reason why the district could not get out of
recovery when it applied for release
this summer, said state-appointed chief recovery officer, Carol Saylor, in
a monthly report at the school board's Wednesday, Jan. 22 meeting. "We
in no way qualify because of the fact that our revenue is not equaling our
expenditures," Saylor said. The district has been on a state-mandated
financial recovery plan since December 2012, when it was targeted as needing
moderate academic and financial improvement, along with Harrisburg City School
District. Two other districts in the state — Chester-Upland and Duquesne
City — were deemed severe and given a state receiver.
“We have miles to go before we sleep.”
Upper Darby looks at later high school start time
Delco Times By Kevin Tustin ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com January 30,
2020
UPPER DARBY — Upper Darby school
administrators and school board members will have a lot to sleep on as they
start to investigate delaying the start time for high school students. A number
of potential scenarios were created by a committee of administrators and
made public for the first time Tuesday night to push back the start time for
secondary education students (high school and/or middle school). The district’s
scenarios for potential delayed start time implementation come three months
after the state published its own study making the case for later start times,
with a general consensus being 8:30 a.m. to provide adequate sleep for
adolescents who generally go to bed later and get up later than younger
students. At present, Upper Darby High School students start their day 7:30
a.m. and middle school students start at 8 a.m. Assistant Superintendent Ed
Marshaleck provided the start times and some costs associated with seven
options outlining what may work for the district if they and a delayed start:
Bucks County targeting e-cigarette makers over vaping
‘epidemic’ among students
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO THE MORNING
CALL | JAN 29, 2020 | 4:31 PM
Bucks County is filing a lawsuit against
e-cigarette companies, alleging that through the use of social media and
marketing aimed at teenagers, the manufacturers have “turned a generation into
addicts.” Wednesday morning, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew D.
Weintraub announced the county was suing JUUL Labs and Eonsmoke. The complaint
also names two local retailers, Gulf Mart in Quakertown and Delta Gas in
Warminster, which, according to Weintraub, have been accused of selling Juul
products to minors. The lawsuit alleges Juul violated the state’s consumer
protection statute by engaging in deceptive and unfair business practices that
have harmed the public. Bucks County is seeking restitution on behalf of
taxpayers from the manufacturers in the lawsuit, although a monetary amount has
not been decided on. Any financial gains would be used for health care services
and programs aimed at educating the community about e-cigarettes, Weintraub
said. More than 37% of Bucks County teenagers have tried vaping, he said. “Through
the use of new technologies and deceptive and predatory marketing to children
via social media, Juul has turned a generation into addicts unwittingly,"
Weintraub said at the news conference Wednesday.
Gnawing question for former Philly teacher: Did my school
make me sick?
Lynn Johnson, a former teacher at Franklin Learning
Center in Philadelphia, developed a rare auto-immune disorder that forced her
to retire at 55
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent Air Date: January 29, 2020 Listen 20:58
On the day before Thanksgiving in 2015,
veteran biology teacher Lynn Johnson made an unusual decision — she decided not
to clean up her classroom. Her students had just completed a lab experiment,
which would typically send her into a frenzy of tidying and straightening. But
she’d felt off all day. Her body wouldn’t let her clean. “My head felt kind of
tipsy — almost like I was drunk,” Johnson said. So instead of gathering the
test tubes and beakers and thermometers, she left the space as it was — frozen
in a state of suspended discovery. Then the 55-year-old flicked off the lights
in Room 217 and walked out of Franklin Learning Center, the Philadelphia high
school where she’d taught for 16 years. “I said,`I’ll just take care of that
when I come back Monday,’” Johnson remembered. “I never came back Monday.” Johnson
didn’t know it then, but her teaching career had just ended. The next six
months would take her on an odyssey to the edges of medicine — to the brackish
place where science meets mystery. She would lose her hearing, her balance and,
eventually, her independence. Those six months would flip Johnson’s life, and
leave her with a gnawing question:
Did my school building do this to me?
“In response, the nonprofit abruptly changed course. It hired
Chavous as a consultant to its charter school operations, and turned to Johnson
for help getting the Royal site rezoned for mixed-use development featuring
apartments and retail space. Prosecutors said Wednesday that Chavous did next
to nothing for the money Universal paid her under her consulting contract
before Johnson’s rezoning ordinance was passed. According to the indictment,
“Chavous’ consulting business provided the vehicle to disguise bribe payments
to her husband.”
Feds charge Philly City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson
with using his office to enrich himself and his wife
Two former executives at music producer Kenny
Gamble’s nonprofit also charged
Inquirer by Jeremy Roebuck and Chris Brennan, Updated: January 29, 2020-
9:40 PM
Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta
Johnson twice came to the rescue of a financially struggling nonprofit
desperate to hold on to its real estate holdings in his district — but his
assistance, federal authorities said Wednesday, always came at a price. In a
43-page indictment, prosecutors charged the three-term Democrat and his wife,
Dawn Chavous, with accepting more than $66,750 in bribes in 2013 and 2014 from
two executives at Universal Companies, the South Philadelphia community
development charity and charter school operator founded by the renowned music
producer Kenny Gamble. In exchange, investigators said, Johnson intervened on
the nonprofit’s behalf, protecting some of its properties from seizure and
passing legislation that substantially increased the resale value of one. But
as prosecutors described it Wednesday, the Universal executives
allegedly behind the payoffs — former
chief executive officer Abdur Rahim Islam and ex-chief financial officer
Shahied Dawan — were hardly innocent victims of a shakedown by a corrupt
elected official. Rather, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier
Williams, this was how they had operated for years.
“Chavous, who is married to City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson,
was paid to assist the same political action committee, the Susquehanna
International Group-sponsored Students First PAC, that’s supported Williams for
years. She also consulted for Williams' political campaign even while lobbying
the state on behalf of Students First Corp., a nonprofit established by the
Susquehanna International Group members, in favor of legislation Williams
helped sponsor — and while its affiliated PAC donated generously to
Williams.
Reprise March 2015: Ties between Williams’ campaigns and
charter school proponents run deep
His mayoral campaign manager has also worked
for his biggest donors
BY ISAIAH THOMPSON PhillyVoice
Contributor MARCH 20, 2015
A few weeks ago, state senator and would-be
Philadelphia mayor Anthony H. Williams addressed a gathering of self-described
"progressive" voters going by the name Philly for Change, making his
pitch and fielding questions. Unsurprisingly, the topic of education came up
quickly. Williams, a longtime proponent both of charter schools and
private school voucher programs, has accepted substantial — almost monolithic,
at times — donations from groups promoting those agendas. When the questions
started coming, Williams didn’t deny his support for charter schools (he did
not, however, mention the word “vouchers”) but did downplay his connection to
his erstwhile donors and their agendas. “I wasn’t dependent on one
interest group,” he said. “I’m owned by no one.” It’s a point he’s made
repeatedly — and no less since public campaign finance reports released in
January showed that Williams had received more donations from political action
committees associated with groups pushing charter school expansion, especially
the same individuals, the pro-voucher managers of the Bala Cynwyd-based
Susquehanna International Group, who pumped a staggering $5 million into his
2010 gubernatorial run and contributed roughly a quarter-million dollars to a
newly-formed super PAC expected to use independent expenditures to support his
mayoral bid.
Tweet from @Deana_Gamble in Mayor’s office: Help shape the
future of public education in our city by applying to serve on the Board of
Education. Learn more about this opportunity and how to submit an application
by this Friday, 1/31.
Apply for the Philly Board of Education
January 7, 2020 Sarah
Peterson Mayor’s Office of Education, Office
of the Mayor
As required at the start of a new mayoral
term, the Educational Nominating Panel is now accepting applications for the
Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia. Applications are due
on January 31, 2020. The Board of Education is charged with the
administration, management, and operation of the School District of
Philadelphia. As part of the Board of Education, members will be expected to
work collectively to oversee all major policy, budgetary, and financial
decisions for the School District. Among other duties, the Board of Education
will appoint and evaluate the Superintendent of Schools, adopt the annual
operating and capital budgets, authorize the receiving or expending of funds,
and authorize charter schools. In addition, Board of Education members will be
expected to attend regular monthly public meetings, biannual meetings with
members of City Council and the Mayor, hearings, committee meetings, and
regular visits to public schools. This is an unpaid position which demands many
hours of dedicated service each month, both at in-person meetings and in
preparation for meetings.
PSBA Announces Completion of Commonwealth Education
Blueprint
We are happy to announce the Commonwealth
Education Blueprint is complete! The project is a statewide vision for the
future of public education in Pennsylvania and is a collaborative effort of
individuals that represent the many faces of public education.
Read it here: https://edblueprintpa.org/blueprint
Five compelling reasons for .@PSBA .@PASA .@PAIU school leaders to
come to the Capitol for Advocacy Day on March 23rd:
Charter Reform
Cyber Charter Reform
Basic Ed Funding
Special Ed Funding
PLANCON
Register at http://mypsba.org
School Leaders: Register today for @PSBA @PASA @PAIU Advocacy Day at the
Capitol on March 23rd and you could be the lucky winner of my school board
salary for the entire year. Register now at http://mypsba.org
For more information: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/
Charter
Schools; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN PROPOSED RULEMAKING DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION [ 22 PA. CODE CH. 711 ]
PSBA New and Advanced
School Director Training in Dec & Jan
Additional sessions now being offered in
Bucks and Beaver Counties
Do you want
high-impact, engaging training that newly elected and reseated school directors
can attend to be certified in new and advanced required training? PSBA has been
supporting new school directors for more than 50 years by enlisting statewide
experts in school law, finance and governance to deliver a one-day foundational
training. This year, we are adding a parallel track of sessions for those who
need advanced school director training to meet their compliance requirements.
These sessions will be delivered by the same experts but with advanced content.
Look for a compact evening training or a longer Saturday session at a location
near you. All sites will include one hour of trauma-informed training required
by Act 18 of 2019. Weekend sites will include an extra hour for a legislative
update from PSBA’s government affairs team.
New School
Director Training
Week Nights:
Registration opens 3:00 p.m., program starts 3:30 p.m. -9:00 p.m., dinner with
break included
Saturdays: Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., program starts at 9:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m., lunch with break included
Saturdays: Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., program starts at 9:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m., lunch with break included
Advanced
School Director Training
Week Nights:
Registration with dinner provided opens at 4:30 p.m., program starts 5:30 p.m.
-9:00 p.m.
Saturdays: Registration opens at 10:00 a.m., program starts at 11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., lunch with break included
Saturdays: Registration opens at 10:00 a.m., program starts at 11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., lunch with break included
Locations
and dates
- Monday, February 3,
2020 — Beaver Valley IU 27, 147
Poplar Avenue, Monaca, PA 15061
Hear relevant content from statewide experts, district practitioners and
PSBA government affairs staff at PSBA’s annual membership gathering. PSBA
Sectional Advisors and Advocacy Ambassadors are on-site to connect with
district leaders in their region and share important information for you to take
back to your district.
Locations and dates
- Wednesday,
March 18, 2020 — Section 7, PSBA
Headquarters, 400 Bent Creek Blvd, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
- Tuesday,
March 24, 2020 — Section 1, General McLane
High School, 11761 Edinboro Rd, Edinboro, PA 16412
- Tuesday,
March 24, 2020 — Section 4, Abington
Heights School District, 200 East Grove Street, Clark Summit, PA 18411
- Wednesday,
March 25, 2020 — Section 3, Columbia-Montour
AVTS, 5050 Sweppenheiser Dr., Bloomsburg, PA 17815
- Wednesday,
March 25, 2020 — Section 6, Bedford County
Technical Center, 195 Pennknoll Road, Everett, PA 15537
- Thursday,
March 26, 2020 — Section 2, State College
Area High School, 650 Westerly Pkwy, State College, PA 16801
- Monday,
March 30, 2020 — Section 5, Forbes Road
Career & Technology Center, 607 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146
- Monday, March 30, 2020 — Section 8, East Penn School District, 800 Pine St, Emmaus,
PA 18049
- Tuesday, April 7, 2020 — Section 5, Washington School District, 311 Allison
Avenue, Washington, PA 15301
- Tuesday, April 7, 2020 — Section 8, School District of Haverford Twp, 50 East Eagle
Road, Havertown, PA 19083
Sectional Meetings are 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. (across all locations). Light
refreshments will be offered.
Cost: Complimentary for
PSBA member entities.
Registration: Registration is
now open. To register, please sign into myPSBA and look for
Store/Registration on the left.
Congress, Courts, and
a National Election: 50 Million Children’s Futures Are at Stake. Be their
champion at the 2020 Advocacy Institute.
NSBA Advocacy
Institute Feb. 2-4, 2020 Marriot Marquis, Washington, D.C.
Join school leaders
from across the country on Capitol Hill, Feb. 2-4, 2020 to influence the
legislative agenda & shape decisions that impact public schools. Check out
the schedule & more at https://nsba.org/Events/Advocacy-Institute
Allegheny County Legislative Forum on Education March 12
by Allegheny Intermediate Unit Thu, March
12, 2020 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT
Join us on March 12 at 7:00 pm for the
Allegheny Intermediate Unit's annual Allegheny County Legislative Forum. The
event will feature a discussion with state lawmakers on a variety of issues
impacting public schools. We hope you will join us and be part of the
conversation about education in Allegheny County.
All school
leaders are invited to attend Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in
Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Pennsylvania
Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and the Pennsylvania Association of
School Administrators (PASA) are partnering together to strengthen our advocacy
impact. The day will center around meetings with legislators to discuss
critical issues affecting public education. Click here for more information or register
at http://www.mypsba.org/
School
directors can register online now by logging in to myPSBA. If you need
assistance logging in and registering contact Alysha Newingham, Member Data
System Administrator at alysha.newingham@psba.org
Register now for
Network for Public Education Action National Conference in Philadelphia March
28-29, 2020
Registration, hotel
information, keynote speakers and panels:
PARSS Annual Conference April 29 – May 1, 2020 in State
College
The 2020 PARSS Conference is April 29 through
May 1, 2020, at Wyndham Garden Hotel at Mountain View Country Club in State
College. Please register as a member or a vendor by accessing the links below.
Any comments contained herein are my comments, alone, and
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization
that I may be affiliated with.
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