Tuesday, June 9, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for June 9: PA Charter School Coalition Leader Steps Down Following Social Media Post


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 emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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PA Ed Policy Roundup for June 9, 2020
PA Charter School Coalition Leader Steps Down Following Social Media Post



PCCY Teen Town Hall: Race – Let’s Talk About It
Friday, June 12th at 11 am, we invite the region’s teens to join in a virtual conversation focusing on the most important issue of our time - RACE. We are inviting adults to join the conversation to hear what our young people have to say.



Pa. charter school group cuts ties with its leader over her social media post about George Floyd protesters
Penn Live By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com Today 12:11 PM
The outspoken leader of the state’s largest charter school organization is parting ways with the advocacy group after posting on Facebook that the civil rights protests “disgust me” and later apologized for her statement. The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools’ board of trustees on Monday announced following weekend discussions, it was cutting ties with Ana Meyers, of Mechanicsburg, who has led the organization for the past three years. “We have determined that new leadership is in the best interests of our member schools and the families they serve across the state,” according to the board’s statement. It went on to credit Meyers for “her tireless efforts over the past three years to create more educational opportunity for students in Pennsylvania, especially minority and economically disadvantaged students, in public charter schools.”

Pa. charter school leader ousted after criticizing George Floyd protestors
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent June 5, 2020
Update: Monday 6/8/20 11:13 a.m.
The head of an influential Pennsylvania charter school advocacy group has been ousted after making a social media post about the ongoing civil rights protests in which she said: “these protesters disgust me. All lives matter!” She later called her comments “insensitive and inappropriate” and said she meant to imply that the looting and violence that had occurred disgusted her. Ana Meyers, head of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, posted — and then deleted — a statement on her personal Facebook page in which she called the protests spurred by the killing of George Floyd “not okay.” Meyers’ original post, from Saturday May 31, linked to an emergency alert that mentioned “violent protests” in Philadelphia.

Head of Pa. charter schools group steps down after posting that Floyd protesters ‘disgust me’
Inquirer by Maddie Hanna, June 8, 2020 5:42 p.m.
The executive director of a Pennsylvania charter school advocacy group has stepped down after posting on Facebook that George Floyd protesters “disgust me,” and “all lives matter.” Ana Meyers had apologized on Friday night for the comments, saying that "as the wife of a retired state trooper, my instinct was to defend the many good and honorable law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania." On Monday, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools said in a statement, "We have determined that new leadership is in the best interests of our member schools and the families they serve across the state. We thank Ana Meyers for her tireless efforts over the past three years to create more educational opportunities for students in Pennsylvania, especially minority and economically disadvantaged students, in public charter schools.”

Pa. charter school coalition leader departs after 'insensitive' Facebook post about protests
ANDREW GOLDSTEIN Pittsburgh Post-Gazette agoldstein@post-gazette.com JUN 8, 2020 12:02 PM
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools has parted ways with its executive director after she posted what she later called “insensitive” comments on Facebook about protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death in police custody. The coalition announced Ana Meyers’ “departure” on Monday. It was unclear if she resigned or was fired. “This is a personnel matter, and I must refer you to the board’s statement,” said Sean Connolly, a public relations professional hired by the coalition. The original Facebook post and a subsequent apology were first reported by WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR station. Ms. Meyers, who led the coalition for three years, posted the comments May 30 on her personal Facebook page in reaction to protests in Philadelphia.

A Message from the PCPCS Board of Directors
Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools Press Release June 8, 2020
HARRISBURG (June 8, 2020) – The following is a statement from the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools (PCPCS) regarding the departure of Ana Meyers as executive director.
We have determined that new leadership is in the best interests of our member schools and the families they serve across the state. We thank Ana Meyers for her tireless efforts over the past three years to create more educational opportunities for students in Pennsylvania, especially minority and economically disadvantaged students, in public charter schools.
We will begin a search for a new executive director to lead the organization and advocate on behalf of more than 143,000 public charter school students. The Board and staff of PCPCS remain committed to serving charter schools and their students and supporting the mission and goals of the organization.

School budget deadlines are looming. Here’s what Lehigh Valley school districts are proposing, including tax hikes, in wake of coronavirus
By MORNING CALL STAFF THE MORNING CALL | JUN 08, 2020 | 7:39 PM
Around the time many districts would normally be firming up budgets for the coming school year, a pandemic hit that sent students home and finance directors back to the drawing board. The potential financial ramifications of the business shutdown — massive job loss and ensuing threat to the tax base — are a daily-evolving challenge for those in charge of public school districts’ fiscal futures. The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials expects a $1 billion loss in local tax revenue across the state in next year’s budgets. For many school districts, the proposed final budget — which by law must be passed by June 30 — looks quite different from preliminary versions of just three or four months ago. Here are the proposed final budgets of Lehigh Valley school districts, and the deadline for providing your input. Some districts did not respond to messages to get more details.

Bethlehem school district to hold the line on taxes despite pandemic’s economic toll
By Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com Updated Jun 08, 2020; Posted Jun 08, 2020
The Bethlehem Area School District was bracing itself for a tough 2020-21 budget after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the local economy to a standstill. But instead on Monday night the district administration brought forward a $302 million budget that doesn’t increase taxes for the second year in a row. A majority of the school board indicated next week they’d approve a final spending plan that relies on $2 million of fund balance to close the deficit. The district’s financial fortune’s shifted so much that Chief Financial Officer Stacy M. Gober interrupted her own budget presentation to remark on what a pleasure it was to deliver the current spending plan. The budget proposal was bolstered by a state budget that keeps education funding level, along with $3.2 million in federal stimulus dollars and $1.17 million in school health and safety funds.

About 500 Pittsburgh Public Schools teachers, staff march to protest George Floyd's death
MARYLYNNE PITZ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mpitz@post-gazette.com JUN 8, 2020 10:17 AM
About 500 Pittsburgh educators marched peacefully Monday, walking two miles from Sterrett Classical Academy in Point Breeze to Colfax Elementary in Squirrel Hill, to protest the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd, a black unarmed Minneapolis man. Organized by Tamara Saunders-Woods, principal of Colfax, and MiChele Holly, principal of Sterrett, the march began at 8:46 a.m. The start time reflected the amount of time — 8 minutes and 46 seconds — that Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, kept his knee on the neck of George Floyd, a black unarmed man who died while handcuffed and face down in the street. All four officers involved in his arrest were fired and face felony charges in connection with his death. "We should not have to see a man murdered on film to be outraged," Ms. Woods told the demonstrators. "Every week we turn around and there's another murder and no accountability."

Former Eagle Malcolm Jenkins delivering keynote at Philadelphia schools virtual graduation
KYW by MIKE DENARDO JUNE 09, 2020 - 4:00 AM
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Because in-person celebrations are still out, the School District of Philadelphia is holding a virtual graduation ceremony for its high school graduates Tuesday, and the main speaker is a popular voice for social justice. It's been a tumultuous year for the Class of 2020, with a pandemic and civil unrest rattling their final months.  Because the city's 54 high schools can't gather right now for their own ceremonies, the district is holding an online graduation ceremony starting at 11 a.m., with a prominent commencement speaker, said Superintendent William Hite. "Given all that has happened, it is most appropriate to have Malcolm Jenkins as the keynote speaker,” he said.  The former Eagles safety is returning to the New Orleans Saints, but he remains part of the Philadelphia community, having marched in Philadelphia over the weekend. "He's an outspoken advocate for social justice, racial injustice, and we look forward to him addressing our graduates as our keynote speaker,” Hite added.  The ceremony also features student performances, a speech from Mayor Kenney, and "Pomp and Circumstance" courtesy of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Black Dems take over Pa. House floor; Turzai calls for special session on police reform
PA Capital Star By John L. MicekStephen Caruso June 8, 2020
(*This story has been updated to include comment from Senate Republicans and Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Philadelphia, and Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny)
The most powerful Republican in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives said Monday that he “[stands] in solidarity,” with Black lawmakers who have called for votes on long-delayed police reform bills, and proposed a special legislative session on those bills. The remarks by state House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, came as the chamber’s Black members, all Democrats, occupied the House chamber and refused to allow Monday’s voting session to begin until there was a guarantee of action on the legislation. The measures include a ban on chokeholds, expanding public access to police footage and adjusting use of force guidelines. “In the matter of peaceful civil disobedience. They have expressed their anger. Their frustration. Certainly the issues they raise are legitimate,” Turzai, who is retiring at year’s end, said in remarks that stretched about nine minutes. Turzai told the Black lawmakers, who were joined Monday by some white colleagues, that House leadership would meet to discuss the legislation, and send a joint letter to Gov. Tom Wolf to call for the special session.

Corporations are looting public dollars, at students’ expense
If you have to pay to access public school online, is it still public?
The notebook Commentary by Adam Sanchez June 8 — 3:19 pm, 2020
As the explosive protests of the last week have made clear, the anger at racism in Philadelphia runs deep. This anger is about much more than the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis — or even police brutality. The disturbingly regular police killings of black people across the country is the sharpest edge of a society that devalues black lives. One of the clearest examples of systemic racism in our city is the chronic underfunding of Philadelphia’s public schools. With a majority black student population and 86% students of color, the District faces a constant struggle for basic supplies and staffing. This sends a clear message to students that their education is not a priority. Although many people have condemned the looting of storefronts last week, far fewer have condemned the decades of systematic looting of public dollars by large corporations. And Comcast is one of Philadelphia’s biggest looters. Comcast and other large corporations have promoted tax policies at the city, state, and federal levels that have increasingly robbed public schools of needed revenue. The Comcast Technology Center, built with $40 million in public subsidies, received the largest share of Philadelphia’s 10-year tax abatement in 2019. Comcast is one of the main investors in the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, a key opponent of ending this tax break. According to the Our City, Our Schools Coalition, this tax abatement stole $61 million from public schools in 2018.

Hasan Minhaj Breaks Down Why We Need to Save Local Newspapers From Extinction
New York Vulture By Megh Wright@megh_wright LAST NIGHT ON LATE NIGHT 11:36 A.M.
Here’s a clip from yesterday’s new episode of Patriot Act during which Hasan Minhaj shines a spotlight on how one of the most important areas of the media — local newspapers — is currently in danger of being destroyed completely. Not only did the coronavirus prompt layoffs at papers across the country, but Google and Facebook have been siphoning ad money off local journalism for years. Plus, the private-equity firms (a.k.a. the vulture funds that now control most of local media) are bleeding the papers dry with their “rape and pillage strategy,” an approach that guts local papers for profit. The biggest offender, Alden Global Capital, has been called “the grim reaper of American newspapers” by Vanity Fair. “Make no mistake: Racking up debt, selling off assets, laying off staff — these aren’t business tactics; it’s basic shit Alden does to pay themselves more, and it works,” Minhaj says. Need proof? Minhaj notes that Alden founder Randall Smith currently owns 16 mansions in Palm Beach, Florida, alone.
Minhaj points out that while local newspapers only make up 25 percent of the country’s media outlets, they are responsible for half of the country’s original reporting — reporting that’s picked up and covered by the bigger outlets every day. So without local journalists, Minhaj warns, it’s impossible to know how much corruption is happening out there right now if no one is around to uncover it. Take, for example, the city of Bell, California, which hasn’t had a local paper since the early 2000s. In 2005, city officials eliminated their own salary caps, and the police chief upped his salary to over $450,000 while the city manager upped his salary to nearly $800,000, and there were no reporters to inform the city about it or hold the officials accountable for a whole five years. “If we don’t want a steady diet of high-fructose bullshit, we need strong local papers. We need to treat them like the essential services they are,” Minhaj says. “With everything that’s going on in this country right now, from the pandemic to the protests, we cannot let local papers die. Whether it’s funding them with tax dollars, turning them into nonprofits, or just supporting them.”

When 511 Epidemiologists Expect to Fly, Hug and Do 18 Other Everyday Activities Again
New York Times By Margot Sanger-KatzClaire Cain Miller and Quoctrung Bui June 8, 2020
Many epidemiologists are already comfortable going to the doctor, socializing with small groups outside or bringing in mail, despite the coronavirus. But unless there’s an effective vaccine or treatment first, it will be more than a year before many say they will be willing to go to concerts, sporting events or religious services. And some may never greet people with hugs or handshakes again. These are the personal opinions of a group of 511 epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists who were asked by The New York Times when they expect to resume 20 activities of daily life, assuming that the pandemic and the public health response to it unfold as they expect. Their answers are not guidelines for the public, and incorporate respondents’ individual life circumstances, risk tolerance and expectations about when there will be widespread testing, contact tracing, treatment and vaccination for Covid-19. They said it’s these things that will determine their actions, because the virus sets the timeline. “The answers have nothing to do with calendar time,” said Kristi McClamroch of the University at Albany.


Celebrating 125 years at PSBA
POSTED ON JUNE 5, 2020 IN PSBA NEWS
Over the past 125 years, a lot has happened at PSBA. From its founding in 1895 by H.H. Quimby to serving nearly 100% of Pennsylvania’s school districts by 1970 to hosting the first fully virtual conference in 2020, time and technology have presented opportunities for growth as well as challenges. To learn more about how PSBA has evolved over the years, watch this brief video celebrating the association's monumental anniversary!

Adopt the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform
In this legislative session, PSBA has been leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor’s Administration to push for positive charter reform. We’re now asking you to join the campaign: Adopt the resolution: We’re asking all school boards to adopt the 2020 resolution for charter school funding reform at your next board meeting and submit it to your legislators and to PSBA.

Over 245 PA school boards adopt charter reform resolutions
Charter school funding reform continues to be a concern as over 245 school boards across the state have adopted a resolution calling for legislators to enact significant reforms to the Charter School Law to provide funding relief and ensure all schools are held to the same quality and ethics standards. Now more than ever, there is a growing momentum from school officials across the state to call for charter school funding reform. Legislators are hearing loud and clear that school districts need relief from the unfair funding system that results in school districts overpaying millions of dollars to charter schools.

Know Your Facts on Funding and Charter Performance. Then Call for Charter Change!
PSBA Charter Change Website:

The Network for Public Education Action Conference has been rescheduled to April 24-25, 2021 at the Philadelphia Doubletree Hotel


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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