by Karel Kilimnik
December 10, 2015
Welcome to the Fifth Edition of APPS’ “Eyes on the SRC”.
A cautionary note to our readers. This analysis is based on what the SRC has chosen to publish right now at this very moment. We try to keep up but sometimes it’s difficult when a Resolution pops up right before the SRC Action meeting.
It is gratifying to see more people attending SRC Action meetings and speaking. We continue to ask questions, they continue to avoid answering. It is essential for all of us to speak up. Our words travel far beyond the four walls of the auditorium. The meeting is live streamed and journalists tweet as well as write articles. We have to get our ideas into the public arena. Dr. Hite continues to refuse to sever the Source4Teachers contract. Teachers cover classes, and students do not have regularly appointed classroom teachers, while Source4Teachers continues to fail miserably at providing substitute teachers. We need to continue asking Dr. Hite to break the contract. It is unconscionable to inflict this situation on students and teachers.
The next SRC meeting is Thursday Dec. 17th at 5:30. To register to speak you must call 215 400 4180 by 4:30 on Dec. 16th. It’s best to say that you’re a teacher, parent, or community member because only “one member of an organization can register to speak” (from the District website)
Want some help with your testimony? Contact us at philaapps@gmail.com
APPS: Dwight Evans was instrumental in bringing Foundations into the School District. Now they are getting paid large sums to fill two high level administrative positions. Last month we learned that Karen Kolsky, Network 6 Assistant Superintendent, and Cheryl Logan, Autonomy Network Assistant Superintendent, received new appointments. Logan to become Chief Academic Supports Officer and Kolsky to Interim Chief Neighborhood Networks Officer. Both received salary increases as well as a $10,000 bonus. Kolsky directed the Academy for Leadership in Philadelphia Schools, a program funded in partnership with the Broad Foundation (Hite is a graduate of the Broad Superintendents Academy) while Logan and Hite worked together in Maryland. You have to wonder what criteria they will use to find “highly-qualified, experienced” candidates.
A-3 (Updated 12.7.15)
Operating Budget: $280,500 Contract with Foundations, Inc. – Staffing Services
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to execute, deliver and perform a contract with Foundations, Inc., for professional staffing services, for an amount not to exceed $280,500, for the period commencing December 18, 2015 through September 1, 2016.
Description: The District is seeking the services of a professional staffing entity, Foundations, to supply two highly-qualified, experienced administrators to fill the positions of Assistant Superintendent Autonomy Network and Assistant Superintendent Neighborhood Network #6. The District will be interviewing and selecting the candidates supplied by Foundations based on experience and qualifications.
ABC Code/Funding Source $280,500.00 1100-051-9020-2361-1111 Operating
APPS: What we really and truly need is a forensic audit of the School District budget so we can see where the money is being spent. This was not updated on 12/3. I truly wonder what mechanisms they use to put dates on these Resolutions.
A-4 (Updated 12.3.15)
Operating Budget: $976,338 Ratification of Contract with City Controller of Philadelphia – Single Audit Services FY2014, FY2015, FY2016
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission hereby ratifies the execution, delivery and performance by The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent, of contracts with the City Controller of Philadelphia, to provide independent audit services for the Single Audit for the Fiscal Year 2014, for an amount not to exceed $326,338, for the period commencing July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 and to provide independent audit services for the Single Audit for the Fiscal Year 2015, for an amount not to exceed $325,000, for the period commencing July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, for an aggregate amount not to exceed $651,338; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission hereby authorizes the The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to execute, deliver and perform a contract with the City Controller of Philadelphia, to provide independent audit services for the Single Audit for the Fiscal Year 2016, for an amount not to exceed $325,000, for the period commencing July 1, 2016 through completion of the audit.
Description: The City Controller by Philadelphia Home Rule Charter is the school auditor of the School District of Philadelphia. The City Controller conducts both the Single Audit (A-133) for federal grant programs and the “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the School District” annual audit. Both audits are required by government regulations. The SRC Chair each year signs an audit engagement letter which indicates the estimated fees for the upcoming audit as required by general accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
The City Controller has been requested on several occasions to pre-contract with the School District regarding the fees to be charged for the Single Audit (A-133). This is a ratifying resolution because the City Controller will not enter into a contract until after the audit takes place because it is based on the required tests performed to determine how many grant programs must be audited for that year and the numbers of hours the auditors actually work on the audit. The resolution before the SRC is therefore to ratify the services and fees for the audits performed for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 and approve a contract for the FY 16 audit. The School District accrues audit fees on the books based upon the amount of fees indicated in the engagement letter for the prior year and adjusts to actual once the amount to be charged for the audit is known.
ABC Code/Funding Source $976,338.00 912X A/C 5101 Audit Clearing Account Funds
APPS: Union busting continues as the SRC allocates $12,000,000 to a private firm instead of hiring enough custodial staff to clean our 18 comprehensive high schools. The march towards privatizing all staffing needs continues unabated. Jerry Roseman, environmental science consultant who has assessed conditions in almost every Philadelphia public school writes that $20 million spent on facilities could improve conditions for every child and teacher.
A-14
General Fund: $12,000,000 Contract with GCA Services – Janitorial and Custodial Services at all 18 High Schools – 2 years
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to execute, deliver and perform a contract with GCA Services for janitorial and custodial services at eighteen comprehensive high schools for an amount not to exceed $6,000,000.00 for the period commencing January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, with option for one-year renewal commencing January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000.
Description: The District decided to outsource the maintenance and cleaning of 18 comprehensive high schools in 2006. The decision was codified in a memorandum of understanding that currently exists with the relevant bargaining unit. We are going to continue this arrangement given the size of the buildings and our facility needs.
Under this contract the professional cleaning services company is responsible for providing all manpower and cleaning supplies as directed by the School District.
On 10/01/15, RFP – 456 was issued to solicit respondents to provide these services under an initial two year contract.
Twenty four (24) notifications were sent directly to vendors to announce the solicitation. The bid was downloaded 35 times by vendors. The district received four proposals.
ABC Code/Funding Source
1100-031-9270-2625-3311 FY16 General Fund ($3,000,000.00) 1100-031-9270-2625-3311 FY17 General Fund ($3,000,000.00)
APPS: First, the District builds a brand new high school and then it turns it over to a charter operator. Audenreid High School was given to Universal within two years of new construction. A handshake deal meant no rent for a year until someone discovered this lapse. So, these repairs at Wister are happening now because the District wants to turn it over to a charter operator? Why not repair the school for the children who attend it now? Does this mean that Martin L. King High School is next on the list to be given to a charter operator? Does the District do major repairs before turning the school over to a charter operator?
A-15 (Updated 12.7.15)
Capital Fund: $3,927,021 Capital Project Awards
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes the School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent, or his designee, to execute, deliver, and perform contracts with the lowest responsible bidders identified in the attachment at an aggregate cost of $3,927,021.00.
Description:
Spec: B-095 C
of 2014/15 Electrical Contract – Mechanical Plant Replacement John Wister Elementary School – 67 East Bringhurst Street Mulhern Electric Company, Inc. – $212,984.00
Abington, Pennsylvania 19001
ABC Code: 8Q11-065-6430-4623-4561-05
Total Aggregate M/WBE Participation: 35.0%
This electrical contract covers the labor, material, and equipment to necessary to perform the electrical work required to support the major mechanical upgrades at this location.
The bids for Wister ES project were publically advertised on 9/25/15, 9/30/15, and 10/13/15 in several local newspapers and posted on the School District’s Capital Programs Website. The award is recommended to the responsive and responsible bidder who submitted the lowest price and met the technical and construction specifications. Bids were publically opened on 10/22/15. After review of the bids and a de-scoping meeting it was determined that Mulhern Electric Company, Inc. was the lowest responsible bidder with a bid of $212,984.00.
The Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) at this location is 46.46%. The School Performance Index (SPI) at this location is 32.
Spec: B-098 C
of 2014/15 Mechanical Contract – Chiller Replacement Martin Luther King High School – 6100 Stenton Avenue Edward J. Meloney, Inc. – $1,238,000.00
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania 19050
ABC Code: 8Q11-065-6060-4695-4591-05
Total Aggregate M/WBE Participation: 43.4%
This mechanical contract covers the labor, material and equipment necessary to perform mechanical upgrades at this location.
The bids for King HS project were publically advertised on 10/16/15, 10/21/15, and 11/3/15 in several local newspapers and posted on the School District’s Capital Programs Website. The award is recommended to the responsive and responsible bidder who submitted the lowest price and met the technical and construction specifications. Bids were publically opened on 11/17/15. After review of the bids and a de-scoping meeting it was determined that Edward J. Meloney, Inc. was the lowest responsible bidder with a bid of $1,238,000.00.
The Facilities Condition Index (FCI) at this location is 12.53%. The School Progress Report (SPR) at this location is 10.
Spec: B-099 C
of 2014/15 Electrical Contract – Chiller Replacement Martin Luther King High School – 6100 Stenton Avenue Hyde Electric Corporation – $266,500.00
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129
ABC Code: 8Q11-065-6060-4695-4561-05
Total Aggregate M/WBE Participation: 10.0%
This electrical contract covers the labor, material, and equipment to necessary to perform the electrical work required to support the major mechanical upgrades at this location.
The bids for King HS project were publically advertised on 10/16/15, 10/21/15, and 11/3/15 in several local newspapers and posted on the School District’s Capital Programs Website. The award is recommended to the responsive and responsible bidder who submitted the lowest price and met the technical and construction specifications. Bids were publically opened on 11/17/15. After review of the bids and a de-scoping meeting it was determined that Hyde Electric Corporation was the lowest responsible bidder with a bid of $266,500.00.
The Facilities Condition Index (FCI) at this location is 12.53%. The School Progress Report (SPR) at this location is 10.
ABC Code/Funding Source $3, 927,021.00 8Q11-065-6430-4623-4591 Capital ($2,209,537.00 )
8Q11-065-6430-4623-4561 Capital ($212,984.00)
8Q11-065-6060-4695-4591 Capital ($1,238,000.00)
8Q11-065-6060-4695-4561 Capital ($266,500.00)
APPS: Here we go again! This Resolution has been popping up for the past several months. We went to court-ordered Mediation last August but the SRC seems have a different definition of mediation. We believe that negotiation is integral to the process, not proclaiming a settlement has been reached. We are not seeking money we simply want the SRC to follow the rules. Wonder where the $ 70,800 comes from – could this be their legal fees for dragging this out?
General Counsel
A-20 (Added 12.2.15)
Settlement of Civil Action – Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools and Lisa Haver
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes the School Reform Commission, through the Chair, and The School District of Philadelphia, through the General Counsel, to enter into a settlement agreement with Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools and Lisa Haver, in a form satisfactory to the School Reform Commission and the Office of General Counsel, in exchange for releases of all claims for alleged violations by the School Reform Commission of the Sunshine Act, including: (i) all claims that the announcements of reasons for executive sessions by the SRC are insufficiently specific; (ii) all claims that the SRC is engaging in private deliberations simply because the members of the SRC may refrain from discussing resolutions during their public meetings; and (iii) all claims arising out of or in connection with the special public meeting of the SRC held on October 6, 2014, and dismissal of the civil action filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County and the appeal filed in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, at no cost to the School District.
Description: On November 4, 2014, Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools and Lisa Haver filed a lawsuit against the SRC, the School District and Chairman William Green in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, November Term, 2014, No. 382, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief for alleged violations by the School Reform Commission of the Sunshine Act. On January 19, 2015, plaintiffs filed an Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Motion for Preliminary Injunction, which Motions were denied by the Court by Order dated February 3, 2015. On February 26, 2015, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania from the Order denying their Motions, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania; No. 284 CD 2015. This resolution documents the settlement of the issues between the parties.
ABC Code/Funding Source $70,800.00
APPS: The William Penn Foundation continues giving money to support early childhood programs that bring in outside agencies and personnel. This Resolution follows this pattern. Instead of ensuring that every kindergarten class has a classroom assistant and small class size; that every school has at least one full time counselor, nurse, librarian, and reading specialist to support every child’s development they want to bring in a “Fellow” to develop practices that are part of every kindergarten teacher’s role as a classroom teacher. If the William Penn Foundation wants to make a lasting impact on every young child’s life then ensure that every elementary school has what it needs.
B-1
Categorical Grant Fund: $268,413 Ratification of Grant Acceptance from the William Penn Foundation – Kindergarten Transition
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission hereby ratifies the acceptance by The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, of a grant from the William Penn Foundation, in an amount not to exceed $268,413.00, to support efforts to improve and enhance the Kindergarten transition experience for Philadelphia’s children and families, for the period commencing November 6, 2015 through June 30, 2018.
Description: This ratification is being requested because official award notification was not received from the William Penn Foundation until early November 2015, and the SRC’s December action meeting constituted the first opportunity to present the associated resolution for formal authorization.
A key component of the School District’s Action Plan, which sets the strategic direction for improving the performance of the District, is Anchor Goal 2, ensuring that students are reading on grade-level by third grade. Creating and sustaining a preK to Grade 3 learning continuum is a significant component to ensuring that third graders have the foundational skills they need for long-term academic success.
The District has been working with community partners like those participating in the READ By 4th campaign to address many of the cross-sector training and support needs between and among the preK and K-12 sectors to enhance PreK-3 instructional alignment. However, the full impact of these efforts will not be fully realized without a concomitant attention to solving the considerable operational and infrastructure challenges this city confronts around the Kindergarten Transition experience, which include:
- ensuring that all five-year-olds are identified, registered and enrolled in kindergarten several months before the school year begins so that not only are the children ready for kindergarten, but kindergarten classrooms are ready for the children;
- ensuring that all families of incoming kindergarteners have an established working protocol around what to expect from their children’s teachers and are provided with meaningful tools and activities to facilitate a smooth transition;
- ensuring that schools are able to support a smooth transition to kindergarten for all children by meeting each family prior to the start of the school year and reviewing relevant data to plan for the individual instructional needs of each incoming kindergartener.
Grant funding from the William Penn Foundation will provide a temporary, full-time individual to work as a Fellow with District leadership on creating solutions to these systemic infrastructure and operational issues over the next 36 months. Grant funds will support the direct costs of the fellowship (about 90% of award) as well as research into and analysis of best practices in other similar school districts (about 10% of award), with a nominal amount (less than 1%) taken as indirect costs to support general administration of the grant.
The Fellow will actively participate with key staff in relevant meetings and committees such as the Mayor’s Early Learning Advisory Commission (MELAC) and the new preK-3 Advisory Group being proposed by DVAEYC to support the preK-3 neighborhood networks of practice that will be launched.
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 