I was made aware of complaint about cyber school participation aiding in problems experienced by the Chester Upland school district. I have started to do some research about the school. They are experiencing funding issues and blaming it on the cyber schools.
http://ed.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/18/10182791-fighting-to-save-public-education
There are a few things that must be remembered when diving into these issues. First, parents have chosen to have their children educated in cyber schools. Second, the school district sets a dollar amount that it takes to educate each child. Third, only part of the previous dollar amount follows the student. A large portion of that money stays at the school district. Sounds like a good deal. They get to keep money and don't have to educate the student. Sounds fair...at least to the school district. Excellent use of tax money.
Upon further scrutiny, I found the situation at the school district even more dire. According to Dan Hardy of the Inquirer, the schools has receive a bailout. Where have I heard of those before? We didn't like it for Wall Street. Now, schools are recieving bailouts. Worst of all, the bailout will not even come close to covering their debts. I can't even imagine handling 27.7 million dollars. I guess the school district can't be trust with the money either. The courts have decided to appoint a handler due to the district insufficient records and accounting abilities.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-14/news/31164124_1_chester-upland-assistant-superintendent-district-students
The next article I found left me in amazement. A school board member and teacher fighting inside the school. In front of the students? According to the article, the school seems to be filled with violence. Wow!! That sounds like a school that deserves bailouts.
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/03/14/news/doc4f60d07214f66315581185.txt?viewmode=fullstory
I guess the bullying is not limited to students, teachers and school board member. In the comments of this article, a parent talks able feeling bullied by the school. The article states that the districts's 700 special ed student's rights are being violated. At the same time, it complains about paying for the cost of their education. Sounds like a bit of a contradiction to me. The article does not state how many special ed students are at the district itself. The failing of the district does not violate the rights of special ed students not educated by the district. Instead, special ed students seem to have become just another scape goat. Sad state of affairs.
http://delcotimes.com/articles/2012/03/09/news/doc4f5a84a23dec3657831429.txt
Please check out the job stress rating at this district. If it is extremely stressful for teachers, think what it is like for students.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=Chester_Upland_School_District/Salary
I would like to clarify some of the reason Special Ed students turn to charter schools. Special Ed students are an easy target for bullies. If the school is as violent as the district's teacher states, this would be an unhealthy environment for any student. Another reason is the quality of the education received by the student. If the school is failing, the quality of education would be diminished for all students. Many special ed students cannot thrive in traditional schools because of their own issues. All students have the right to quality education. If they cannot receive that at their district school, they should be allowed to choose an alternative without fear of criticism.
Yet another article brought up even more questions. How was the school allowed to incur this much debt without reprocussions? Was funneling money into less essential expenses really a conscience decision to place the state between a rock and a hard place? Is such actions legal? Even more dire is the fact that half the students attend charter schools. I believe this state more about the school than the charter schools. Why do so many students choose to seek alternative education?
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120313/NEWS05/203130352/Plan-outlines-aid-troubled-Chester-Pa-school-district
My stance on alternative schools was substantiated by the fact that only two out of nine schools within the Chester Upland school district did not make AYP. So the state is now bailing out a district that is failing not only financially, but academically. Is that the best use of tax money? Is this district even providing the education students deserve?
http://delcotimes.com/articles/2011/10/01/news/doc4e8689f5394cb392768084.txt
I decided to research the salaries of the teachers. I believe it is excessive. They do not reflect a poor school district. Fifty thousand or more each salary for two special ed teachers. Over fifty-seven thousand each for 3 special ed teachers and 6 science teachers. No wonder they are willing to keep working. They have been raking the tax payers over the coals and expect it to continue.
http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Chester-Upland-School-District-Salaries-E267932.htm
http://www.salarylist.com/company/Chester-Upland-School-District-Salary.htm
http://www.jobnob.com/chester-upland-school-district-salary
http://www.jobs-salary.com/chester-upland-school-district-salary.htm
http://www.salarydom.com/chester-upland-school-district-company-Salaries.htm
My opinion of some of the problems:
1. The district offers Pre-K 3 and 4. How do they afford it?
2. The district operates nine schools. Why didn't they consolidate the school?
3. Attendance of Making a Difference: Educational Practice That Work Conference.
Guess they have money to throw around.
4. Excessive extracurricular activities and clubs. They are nice when the school can afford it, but too much when you can't. For example, many schools districts have limited the school sponsored athletics for elementry students. Others do not even offer clubs for elementry students. These services have been absorbed by local studios or park and recreation. In those cases, parents are required to pay minimal amounts for the sports their kids participate in.
5. Decrease teacher salaries based on the tax bases represented.
My recomdation to parents of students in this school district. Jump ship before it takes your kids down with it. There are plenty of schools in the state that make AYP. Including many of the cyber charter schools.
I hope the evidence shows mismanagement on the part of the school district. Stop placing blame on charter schools when the problem was obviously caused by the school itself.
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