SRC approves Universal plan for Audenried, Vare
by Benjamin Herold on Apr 27 2011 Posted in Latest news
The School Reform Commission voted Wednesday to allow Universal Companies to operate Audenried High and Vare Middle schools as charter schools beginning next year.
The vote was 3-0, with SRC Chairman Robert Archie abstaining. Because of his longstanding ties to Universal, Archie recused himself from the vote – but not before publicly championing the organization.
“They have a track record of basically turning around neighborhoods and using the schools as a magnet for it,” Archie said, jumping in to respond to a question directed from a fellow commissioner to Universal Executive Vice President Shahied Dawan.
“You’re being very modest by not telling us all this, and I thought I’d just lead you through that scenario if you want to,” Archie told Dawan.
A murmur rose up in the crowded room as Archie continued to tout Universal's accomplishments.
Archie has represented Universal in his capacity as partner in the Duane Morris law firm. He is also close friends with Universal founder Kenny Gamble and served on the boards of Universal Community Homes and Universal Institute Charter School.
Archie’s involvement in behind-the-scenes discussions of the future of Martin Luther King High prompted a mayoral fact-finding inquiry and calls for a state investigation earlier this week. King is another Renaissance school where he had ties to one of the operators vying for the multimillion-dollar charter.
After Wednesday’s meeting, Archie disputed the notion that he had advocated on behalf of Universal.
“I was merely refreshing [Dawan’s] recollection as to what Universal had done when I sat on his board,” Archie said.
The chairman’s public comments regarding Universal came during a sometimes testy hour-long presentation and exchange in which commissioners Joseph Dworetzky and Johnny Irizarry asked probing questions about the plan for Audenried and Vare.
Dworetzky in particular expressed concern about whether Universal would be able to deliver on everything it has pledged to do should it not be awarded a federal Promise Neighborhood implementation grant later this year.
Last September, Universal was the recipient of a related planning grant, which District officials have described as the impetus for creating a new “Promise Neighborhood Partnership Charter School” turnaround model tailored to Universal’s neighborhood redevelopment strategy.
“We are not absolutely depending on obtaining one of the [federal] grant awards to make sure that we’re going to be successful in delivering on this initiative,” Dawan said.
Dworetzky later proposed an amendment to the SRC resolutions obligating the organization to formally commit to providing all promised services with or without the hoped-for federal money. The amendment was approved.
A few new details about what the plan will mean for Audenried and Vare also emerged during the presentation.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Penny Nixon said that Audenried will become a “Center of Excellence” based on its career and technical education program in diesel technology. A District spokesperson later said that the new center will be available to students in Audenried’s catchment, and that “if additional seats remain, students from other areas may apply to attend.”
Both schools will also have on-site Parent Universities beginning next year.
As at other recent SRC meetings, the Promise Neighborhood Partnership plan generated a wide range of emotional testimony.
The chairpersons of both School Advisory Councils (SACs) at Universal’s current Renaissance charters, Bluford and Daroff elementary schools, joined the Universal-District presentation to give impromptu testimonials.
“What Universal has done is commendable,” said Pamela K. Williams, the chair of the Universal-Daroff SAC. “Give them a chance at Audenried and let’s see what they can do.”
Audenried English teacher Hope Moffett, an outspoken critic of the plan who became the face of opposition when the District moved to fire her in March, also testified.
”Why, when asked if the District would wait a year to see the first ever Audenried PSSA results, would the District claim that a $500,000 planning grant with no chance of full funding was their reason for awarding a non-competitive contract to a politically connected educational provider?” asked Moffett.
After the vote, Dawan expressed satisfaction with the outcome and said Universal has “no concern” about meeting the obligations that will be added to the charter agreement as the result of Dworetzky's amendment.
”We can’t wait to get started,” he said.
Comments (8)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 00:12.
The Queen spent a great deal of money on the new school building, then handed over to crooks. It is nice to see the level of corruption in Philadelphia school system. Now in charter schools, the same kids will not fail because teachers are not allowed to give them anything but B or better. It is great to see how this generation of America is making progress. This is why jobs are in China. The Queen doesn't care anyway. People in Philadelphia should wake up.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 07:17.
Actually that's not true. I work for one of the Universal charters and we certainly do not give everyone A's and B's. We want to see our students do well and have high expectations, but they get the grade they earn. I am not sure what your source is for this information.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 01:00.
How can the district claim to represent the interests of the kids when they are rather openly here giving Audenried away based on a broader political plan to get them this grant?
Submitted by Philly Parent and Teacher (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 02:23.
Archie is shameless. Audenreid was built with facilities for career and tech but the SDP never used them. Now that Archie's friends get a $55 million dollar building (which his law firm will continue to represent and make money off of), they are going to open the career and tech.
Anyone not from Philadelphia must be stunned that someone with political / personal ties (e.g. Gamble, Foundations, Mosaica via Ackerman, etc.) gets government bailouts.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 02:30.
This is a sad day of events. Audenreid never had a chance. Yesterday's SRC meeting was like one big love fest for Universal and Kenny Gambel. It was sold out for political gain.
Submitted by Philly Parent and Teacher (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 02:38.
And Archie's financial gain. He had to "recuse" himself from voting on Community Education Charter because his law firm represents them. Which charter school's doesn't Archie's law firm represent? How can he serve on the SRC when his financial gains are tied to charter schools?
Submitted by Dave (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 08:46.
These are not lergitimate charter schools the District has created. While the School Takeover law empowers the SRC to turn schools into charter schools, it does not allow the SRC or the District o change the charter school law. Under the charter school law, charter schools must meet specific structural requirements which include a board of trustees that is particular to the charter school entity. In its application it must state how the board of trustees for the school is "appointed or elected." Each charter school must be a separate non-profit. The charter school law only allows private non-profits to "found" charter schools. It does not allow privately created non-profit organizations themselves to be "given" public schools. Charter schools are supposed to be "public schools." They are not supposed to be private schools paid for with public money.
It states point blank in the charter school law that a " for-profit" company (such as Mosaica) can not found a charter school. Nor may a public school be "given" to a for-profit and called a charter school. Nor can a public school be given to a private "non-pofit" and called a charter school. A school can be turned into a charter school if it has a board of trustees, a method to appoint or elect its board of trustees, a curriculum, and a pedagogy in place.
A properly founded charter school with its own board of trustees can legally "contract with an educational management organization to provide services."
It states quite clealy in the charter school law that the purpose of charter schools is to give parents, teachers, students and the community the opportunity to be in charge of the learning program at these schools. It does not provide for them to be shut out of the process.
What the District has created does not pass muster as legitimate charter schools and under strict scrutiny amounts to a breach of the public trust.
And by the way, the whole notion of non-profit is a legal fiction. Look at the salaries of the CEO's and executive officers of non-profits -- then tell me in honesty that they are not for profit! Scott Gordon how much do you make? I bet it is more than the governor and the Mayor!
The School District leaders, the SRC and their legal wizards need to educate themselves on the legal rquirements of charter schools and the legal issues involved. The Attorney General needs to protect the citizens of Philadadelphia and the school children.
Whose responsibility is it to see that the charter schol law is followed properly? I would submit that it is the Secretary of Education or the Attorney General or both.The legal question arises: Who has standing to bring a class action suit against the District on behalf of the school children of Philadelpia to enforce the charter school law and prevent these pseudo charters from being illegally created?
We all need to understand the legal and conceptual differences between an "educational managem'nt organization", a "Charter school" that is a public organization, and a "privately created 'non-profit' organization." Also we must understand the legal requirements of a "performance contract" with public funds.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/28/2011 - 12:52.
Nobody cares--nobody is there. MONEY is ALL that counts!!!! and this generation of Philly Kids are doomed even more the previous generation and they are doomed by people of color who "Gots theirs." Just a horrible situation for all to see and laugh at from afar and especially from Corbett's office. He must be doing cartwheels as Ackerman et al are doing his bidding for him as the expense of the kids.
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