Board of Education July 23, 2026
by Lisa Haver
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Attributed to Evelyn Beatrice Hall, 1906.
Just before adjourning the June 25 action meeting, Board of Education President Reginald Streater announced that there would be no July meeting. All official business of the board would resume at the August meeting. Because the board had cancelled, postponed, and changed meeting times so often this year, APPS told readers of our report to watch for a surprise July meeting. Sure enough, APPS members found a small legal notice in the July 15 Inquirer: special meeting to be held on July 23 for the sole purpose of transferring funds in order to make up for the shortage created by the delayed passage of the state budget, the Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRAN). Three days later, a July 18 legal item notified the public that two charter items would also be on the agenda. The meeting would be remote only. Several APPS members, in their testimony at this meeting, cited the board’s violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, which states that all official meetings of governmental bodies must be held in public and does not permit government officials to arbitrarily convene remote meetings. A meeting which bars the public from attending is obviously not a public meeting. APPS members noted that the board gave no explanation for the remote-only format; President Streater did not respond with any explanation. Lisa Haver stated several formal objections to violations of the Sunshine Act, including the board’s falsely claiming that people had to email their objections. Haver also objected to the absence of two board members who were marked present even though no one could see them. She read from Section 006.1 of the board’s own by-laws that stipulated any member attending remotely must be seen, not just heard. Minutes later, the two board members turned their cameras on. These are all reasons why, Haver said, Philadelphia needs an elected school board.
Non-emergency Vote on Charters
An administrator from the Montessori charter school stated her objection to the board’s last-minute posting of the agenda item that would continue the district’s process toward non-renewal of the schools. This K-4 charter has not met academic standards since 2018. The board granted the school a 2-year renewal in 2024 despite an “egregious incident” in the school’s non-compliant lottery process resulting in barriers to enrollment. The school’s performance has actually declined since then. This year’s renewal evaluation compiled by the district’s Charter School Office (CSO) shows Montessori receiving a Does Not Meet in Organization, failing in 8 of 10 categories, including Special Education, English Language and Health and Safety. After the board’s preliminary vote for non-renewal this year, the Montessori administration sued. This administrator objected to the board’s last minute notification of this vote. APPS disagrees with Montessori’s position that the school should be renewed. But we do believe that everyone, including charter operators and members of their school communities, have the right to proper notification of meetings and to be heard. The board passed the non-renewal vote, 7-2, with Crystal Cubbage and Whitney Jones dissenting. The board also voted to renew the charter of Universal Audenried high school. Audenried is a Renaissance charter school, but only 20% of its students live in the school’s catchment. Both Streater and Board Vice President Sarah-Ashley Andrews took the opportunity to praise Universal Charter Company; Streater again praised Universal CEO Penny Nixon. Universal Charter Company and its affiliates, Universal Homes and Universal Companies, have been investigated for their questionable financial transactions. Two Universal officials were convicted and sentenced for fraud, corruption, and tax charges in 2024. In 2022, Universal walked away from two of their schools, Bluford and Daroff, both in West Philadelphia, refusing to meet with members of both school communities. The most recent IRS documents, filed in 2023, show CEO Nixon paid: $278,861 salary + 25,000 bonus + 16,772 retirement for a total of $329,623. Universal currently operates only four schools in the district. The board passed the Audenried 5-year renewal unanimously.
APPS Members Testify
Lynda Rubin called out the board for the “disinterest” they show when students come before them to testify: “Young children get the gumption to come here to speak to you in this large formal room, and all you have to say to them is ‘Thank you. Next.’” Kristin Luebbert decried the board’s disenfranchisement of those without the technology needed to attend remotely. She also cited several recent incidents of incompetence on the part of Superintendent Tony Watlington and his senior staff, including the “egregiously bungled” reassignment of teachers and staff just one month before beginning of school. Superintendents are supposed to lead, Luebbert reminded them, and must be held accountable when they don’t. Barbara Dowdall told the board that holding this meeting remotely is no different from their vote on the facilities plan taken in April in a locked room.
The meeting adjourned at 5:09 PM.
Next board action meeting: Thursday, August 20, 4 PM at 440 N. Broad Street.
Next Goals and Guardrails Meeting: Thursday, August 13, 4 PM at 440 N. Broad Street.
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 