by Lisa Haver
May 25, 2016
Each month, APPS publishes our “Eyes on the SRC” in which we select some of the resolutions to be voted on at the next meeting for perusal and analysis. As of this writing on Wednesday evening, less than 24 hours before the meeting, the SRC has yet to post its Resolution Summary.
This shows once again that the SRC has only contempt for the public it is supposed to serve. To add insult to injury, the deadline for signing up to speak was 4:30 PM Wednesday. How can people speak on the business of the SRC when they SRC won’t tell us what it is? APPS has been trying for 18 months to settle our Sunshine Act complaint, filed in November 2014, to bring the SRC into compliance. What are they trying to hide?
Please come to the meeting Thursday, May 26th at 5:30 and demand transparency and fairness from the SRC! If you cannot attend, SRC meetings are broadcast beginning at 5:30 Thursday on Comcast Channel 52; Verizon Channel 20; and online at PSTV Live.
The only thing posted is the Resolution List below. A couple of things that should be noted:
•SRC-5 “Application for Charter Renewal” for Aspira Stetson and SRC-6 “Application for Charter Renewal” for Aspira Olney. These had been listed in the two previous months as resolutions for “non-renewal” based on the recommendation of the SRC’s Charter School Office. Based on the actions of the SRC at the last two meetings, in particular those of Commissioner Green, it seems apparent that the SRC intends to reject the recommendation of its Charter School Office and keep both of these schools in the hands of Aspira. The resolutions have been postponed since the April 28th SRC meeting. [see the April 28 “Ears on the SRC” and the May 19 “Ears on the SRC” for more details.]
•Resolutions for the non-renewal of Universal Vare and Universal Audenried, which were listed on April 28 and May 19 do not appear. Again, the Charter School Office has recommended these two schools for non-renewal. The SRC postponed votes on these two schools twice. They were supposed to vote on them at this meeting. Why are they not listed? Will the SRC explain what happened to them?
•SRC-4 on the amendment of a number of bonds. Obviously, we need to see information on what the amount and terms of the original bonds are and how they are to be amended. What will the final costs to the district and the taxpayers be?
The SRC Resolution List for May 26, 2016:
SCHOOL REFORM COMMISSION PUBLIC MEETING RESOLUTION LIST
MAY 26, 2016
I. SCHOOL REFORM COMMISSION
SRC-1
Adopts an amended Operating Budget for 2015/2016 and an Operating Budget for 2016/2017
SRC-2
Adopts an amended Capital Budget for 2015/2016 and an amended Capital Program for 2016- 2021 and Adopts a Capital Budget for 2016/2017 and a Capital Program for 2017-2022
SRC-3
Approves an agreement with the Philadelphia Intermediate Unit to provide an educational program and auxiliary services to nonpublic school students for 2016/2017
SRC-4
Amendment to the Authorization of the Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series A of 2016 (Series A Bonds), General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series B of 2016, and General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series C of 2016 SRC-5 Application for Charter Renewal – John B. Stetson Charter School; ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania SRC-6 Application for Charter Renewal – Olney Charter High School
SRC-5
Application for Charter Renewal – John B. Stetson Charter School; ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania
SRC-6
Application for Charter Renewal – Olney Charter High School
II. Education Support Services
None Submitted
III. EDUCATION SERVICES
None Submitted
IV. INTERMEDIATE UNIT
IU-1
Adopts an amended Philadelphia Intermediate Unit Budget for 2015/2016 and a Philadelphia Intermediate Unit Budget for 2016-2017
IU-2
Approves an Agreement with the Philadelphia School District to provide an educational program and auxiliary services to nonpublic school students for 2016-2017
The summaries were finally posted late Thursday morning. Look for analysis on in APPS Ears on the SRC – May 26, 2016
Update: SRC tables non-renewal resolutions for Olney, Stetson
The Notebook – May 26, 2016
SRC OKs budget; fails again to vote on charters
Philadelphia Inquirer – May 26, 2016
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 