Posts (Newest to Oldest) – Page 17 – Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools

Watlington Launches Administration with Questionable Contract

Ears on the Board of Education: June 23, 2022

by Diane Payne

Dr. Tony Watlington’s tenure as superintendent got off to an inauspicious start with his request to the Board, made before he was sworn in and granted by the Board without deliberation at its last meeting, for a major contract with Tennessee-based Joseph and Associates that came with a $450,000 price tag. The three-phase consulting project begins with the firm focusing on the “development and execution of a 100-day entry plan” for the new superintendent. When the Board conducted its months-long superintendent search, with members of the community devoting significant time and effort, did they make their final choice with a caveat from the Board that Dr. Watlington was not prepared to take on the job as soon as he got here? Is this the message the Board and Dr. Watlington want to send the school communities—that their priority is not funding classrooms but outside consultants? That a new superintendent wants to conduct business as usual?

Overlooked Hite Legacy

By Diane Payne

Dr. Hite has wrapped up a decade of superintendency in Philadelphia. He received accolades from each Board member, the mayor, his administrative staff, and the media to name the most visible. Farewells rarely dwell on failures and mistakes so in each of these speeches, PowerPoints, and media articles Hite is a star. But just as District presentations and PowerPoints at each monthly Action Meeting do not represent the reality experienced on the ground, Hite’s departing accolades leave out the hurt and pain felt by teachers, students, and families impacted by his decisions.

Hite’s unflappable demeanor and ability to effectively navigate the political gauntlet served him well. The power structure of the District and city were happy with Hite. APPS hopes that the next Superintendent will receive praise from students, teachers, families, and public school advocates more than from the city’s power elites.

Here is what was left out by the Board, mayor, and media.

Click here to continue reading

Board Renews Charters without Public Hearings

The Philadelphia Board of Education is just days away from renewing several charter schools, many of which have not met the basic standards set by the Board. The Board’s policies and practices ensure that the public has fewer opportunities to testify on how renewing the charters affect their neighborhood schools. The Board will also be voting to expand the enrollment of Keystone Academy Charter by over 40%, again with no public review. At its May action meeting, the Board added a Charter Schools Office presentation to the agenda just hours before the meeting convened and after they closed the window to sign up to testify. The Board holds no renewal hearings as other districts in the state do. Yet the Board will be voting to renew most of the twenty-two schools in this year’s cohort. Anyone who spoke at the May meeting–not knowing that the Board would be voting on the renewals next month– may be barred from speaking in June.