by Karel Kilimnik
September 13, 2016
As the school year begins, we witness another disappearing act by the SRC and the Hite administration. Now you see the resolutions, now you don’t. And when we asked for copies of resolutions already posted and distributed, but for some reason deleted from the district website, we were told by SRC staff that we had to file a Right to Know request. The SRC has made resolutions concerning ASPIRA, Olney High and Stetson Middle schools, along with Universal Audenreid High and Vare Middle schools, vanish into thin air—until they decided to make them reappear. The last time they were seen was at the April 28, 2016 SRC Action Meeting, when the Charter School Office strongly recommended non-renewal. Attorney and former mayoral candidate Kenneth Trujillo presented himself at the May 19 meeting as “Oversight Counsel” for ASPIRA, Inc; he admitted that ASPIRA had funneled money designated for Olney and Stetson into their other enterprises, but promised to correct that “cross-collateralization”. Trujillo told the SRC commissioners that ASPIRA Inc. had engaged William Blair and Company, one of the largest investment banks in the country. If ASPIRA wants to clean up its financial problems why are they spending money hiring William Blair & Company, “ a privately held financial services firm that provides investment banking, equity research, brokerage, asset management and private capital services.” What does this have to do with getting Aspira’s finances in order? Commissioner Bill Green made it clear that the SRC would be meeting with Aspira representatives to ensure that the company maintained control of these two schools.
APPS has been active in the five months since April to ensure that the public knows how the SRC is spending public money. We have written to the Mayor and the city’s Chief Integrity Officer, along with the Inspector General appointed to oversee the district. Negotiations with charter companies should not take place in private.
Also pulled from the bag of tricks is the reappearance of renewal resolutions for three Mastery charters—Clymer, Gratz Middle and High, and Shoemaker middle—also originally posted April 28. Despite low test scores, the Charter office recommended renewal. Why did the SRC postpone these for five months? Have SRC commissioners also been negotiating with Mastery? Originally they were posted but then they disappeared from the website. There is also a proposed charter amendment for KIPP Philadelphia Charter. This proposal was denied twice before. Why is the SRC allowing KIPP to submit the same amendment? Why so many do-overs for charters but none for public schools like Wister?
In April 2013, the SRC voted to close Vaux High School as part of the Hite administration’s massive closure campaign. The reason: under-enrollment. Fast forward to the present: the SRC, with no presentation or discussion, will vote to re-open Vaux—not as the public school it was, but as something called a “contract school”. The district, apparently, has been in negotiations with a company called Big Picture. Instead of supporting the school community to provide resources for all of their students, the district chose to scatter those students, disperse the staff, and leave a hole in the neighborhood. Is this the beginning of a new pattern, as more and more people see what a disaster charters have become? Close a school for a couple of years and then allow a non-profit to open it as a “contract” school? Public education dollars are the modern day gold rush for carpetbagger corporations.
Past practice shows us that these charter school operators will be out in full force at the September 15th SRC Meeting. We need for everyone to show up, ask questions either through testimony or by holding signs. We need to show that the community has questions and concerns about the direction the unelected SRC commissioners are taking.
The School Reform Commission is a governmental body. They control the over $2 billion dollar budget for the District and as public officials they must include public input. It’s difficult to comment on issues when Resolutions pop up and then disappear until a Resolution announcing the decision appears.
WE REALLY NEED YOU TO JOIN US AT THE SRC MEETING ON THURSDAY SEPTEMEBER 15th. Judging from the nature of the Resolutions and past practice, the charter operators will be out in full force. In order to get upstairs and into the auditorium call to register to speak by Wednesday September 14 at 4:00 p.m. The phone is 215 400 4180. The meeting starts at 4:30.
We introduce a new segment called What If? What If this sum was applied directly to the classroom. What would it cover?
What If?
What if we took the $3,401,232 (outside legal fees from Resolution A18) and hired certified school librarians (for approximately $90,000 for salary and benefits)? The District could hire over 30 certified librarians.
Full summary list of School Reform Commission Resolutions
Resolution SRC-1 (Pending)
SRC-1 (Updated 9.8.16)
Adoption of Amendments to SRC Policies 006 & 903 – Meetings & Public Participation in SRC Meetings
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission hereby adopts amendments to SRC Policy 006 on Meetings and SRC Policy 903 on Public Participation in SRC Meetings, in the form attached, effective October 1, 2016: (1) to provide that the list of proposed resolutions, except for resolutions relating to quasi-judicial proceedings, will be made available to the public and posted on the School District’s website at least two weeks prior to a regular public meeting [section 7]; (2) to provide for notice to the public of resolutions made available or posted less than 48 hours before a public meeting, and to provide for an opportunity for the public to comment on such resolutions before the SRC takes action [section 7]; (3) to provide for public comment on motions from the floor [section 10]; (4) to amend the form of announcement of the purposes of executive sessions to identify litigation discussed in executive session [section 14]; and (5) to conform Policy 903 to Policy 006.
APPS ANALYSIS: We have been in Mediation for over a year. This changes SRC policy. Then they have to vote to accept the mediated agreement. Why is it taking so long for the SRC to approve the settlement we agreed upon?
SRC-5 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Authorization of Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ)
APPS ANALYSIS: Where is the description for this Resolution? This is meaningless unless we have information informing us as to what this entails.
SRC-6 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Application for Charter Renewal – Mastery Charter School Clymer Elementary
SRC-7 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Application for Charter Renewal – Mastery Charter School Shoemaker Campus
SRC-8(Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Application for Charter Renewal – Mastery Charter School Simon Gratz Campus
SRC-9 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Application for Charter Renewal – John B. Stetson Charter School
SRC-10 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Application for Charter Renewal – Olney Charter High School
SRC-11 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Application for Charter Renewal – Universal Audenried Promise Neighborhood Partnership Charter School
SRC-12 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending)
Application for Charter Renewal – Universal Vare Promise Neighborhood Partnership Charter School
SRC-13 (Added 9.8.16 – Pending))
Proposed Charter Amendment – KIPP Philadelphia Charter School
APPS ANALYSIS: The case of the Disappearing Resolutions – where did they go and why? Why is there no description for any of them?
A-2: Donation: $100,000 Acceptance of Donation from the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey – Vare-Washington Elementary School
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to accept with appreciation the generous donation from the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey of a variety of activities including; creating classroom reading corners; sprucing up the hallways and classrooms; making welcome back teacher kits with supplies; restoring and painting the wrought iron fence; enhancing the student playground area through the designing and creation of an outdoor educational classroom; resurfacing portions of the school yard; and, other beautification projects around the perimeter of the school including gardening, pruning, edging and clean up for a total value of approximately $100,000.
Description: The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) leverages a variety of investments in our schools every year. One such event focuses significant resources and volunteers on one particular school every Fall. This year, UWGPSNJ will organize a major project at and for the Vare-Washington Elementary School on Saturday, September 24, 2016. On that day, 300 volunteers will accomplish the projects described below.
The United Way has invested in several dozen of our schools specifically around programming in early grade literacy and support for at risk middle grades students. The United Way specifically selected the Vare-Washington Elementary School from the schools that they are already supporting and have demonstrated a capacity to receive this type of support. Of all the schools with whom they are so partnered, Vare-Washington was selected as having needs for which a large number of volunteers could have an impact such as general beautification projects that can be completed in one day of service. Vare- Washington demonstrated an interest in and a capacity for the joint planning needed to make the day successful. There is also significant community support which the principal and school leaders were able to leverage for this project. Previous projects have taken place in other parts of the city, and this year, UWGSNJ wanted to serve a school in South Philadelphia.
ABC Code/Funding Source $100,000.00
APPS ANALYSIS: It’s encouraging to see non-profits partnering with schools. They should be supplementing programs not replacing school staff with volunteer labor. A classroom library is no substitute for a school library staffed with a certified school librarian. Presently there are less than 10 school librarians in the entire District. Not all of them function as full time school librarians as they are rostered to teach classes. Years ago every school had a functioning library, a certified school librarian, and maybe even a LIMA (Library Instructional Media Aide).
A-3 (Updated 9.2.16)
Operating Budget: $200,000 Contract with TBD – School Quality Reviews
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes the School District of Philadelphia, through its Superintendent or his designee, to execute, deliver and perform a contract with Cambridge Education, to develop, manage, and execute a comprehensive School Quality Review process, to gather data and develop qualitative reports on school quality and to engage the school community and gather community input, for an amount not to exceed $200,000, for the period commencing September 16, 2016 through June 30, 2017.
Description: The School District of Philadelphia (the District) seeks to retain a consultant to conduct high quality and objective third-party reviews of school quality in a number of schools that have been identified as underperforming. These reviews will identify strengths at these schools which can be built upon, and will provide additional, on-the-ground data to inform which strategic investments would be most likely to drive sustained school improvement. The information gathered during the School Quality Review process will be used to inform recommendations on appropriate measures to be taken to promote sustained school improvement through the System of Great Schools process. The vendor’s purpose in the School Quality Review Process will be to provide additional on-the ground data to inform decision- making. All final recommendations on the investments and interventions to be made in schools will be made by the District.
The consultant will strengthen the District’s understanding of school quality by engaging with the school staff and community to solicit input from teachers, staff members, parents, families, caregivers, community leaders, school partners, and other stakeholders. To that end, the District seeks a consultant that is able to support engaging the school community and gathering community input for a set of identified underperforming schools in alignment with on-going parent engagement activities at schools.
ABC Code/Funding Source $200,000.00 1100-051-9020-2361-3000 Operating
APPS ANALYSIS: Why not collect feedback from students, parents, school staff, community members and partners as to what their particular school needs. Why is there a need to spend money on one consultant when you can engage an entire school community? Presently the focus of this administration seems to be on developing individual schools rather than a high quality school district where every school is a good school. The bigger question is why would you spend money to assess the quality of schools that do not have the resources and support to provide an adequate education? Wouldn’t the money be better spent to actually provide the resources the schools need?
Finance
A-4 (Pending)
Operating Budget: Contract with TBD – School District Initiated Real Estate Tax
APPS ANALYSIS: Where is the description informing the public as to what the School District Initiated Real Estate Tax is? Every Resolution needs a description so the public understands what is happening with our tax dollars.
A 11 No Cost Contract with Vetri Foundation For Children – “Eatiquette” Program
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to execute, deliver, and perform a Consulting Services Agreement with the Vetri Foundation for Children, in form acceptable to the Office of General Counsel, outlining the terms of the “Eatiquette” program at Ziegler Elementary School and permitting personnel of the Vetri Foundation For Children access to the Ziegler School, at no cost to the School District, for the period from September 16, 2016 through June 30, 2017
Description: The “Eatiquette” program is a unique and innovative school climate enhancement program pioneered by two of Philadelphia’s leading restaurateurs, Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin, that seeks to transform the way children eat lunch, think about food, and interact with their school peers.
This program seeks to improve individual student educational outcomes and overall school climate by changing the manner in which school lunch meals are delivered by emphasizing a greater variety of meal items in an environment where children gather around round tables, pass plates of food to each other, and learn collaboration and teamwork.
During the 2013-14 school year the Vetri Foundation for Children, the Food Services Division, and the Office of Student Support Services jointly implemented the ‘Eatiquette’ program for one day per week at Zeigler Elementary School.
Continuation of the ‘Eatiquette’ program and concurrent no-cost Consulting Services Agreement will provide the ability for the District to continue to participate in this successful educational program at moderate incremental District cost.
For the 2016-17 school year the Vetri Foundation for Children and the District are proposing to continue the ‘Eatiquette’ program at Ziegler Elementary School with the goal of providing student lunch meals under this delivery method five days per week.
Vetri Foundation for Children previously donated supplies, educational materials, and cafeteria furniture valued in excess of $100,000 to ensure the success of this initiative and has agreed to provide the following at no cost to the District for the 2016-17 school year: a) educational, menu planning, and lunchroom climate consulting services, b) smallwares, plates, utensils, and other kitchen supplies, c) lease and maintenance costs of existing commercial dishwashing and sanitization equipment, d) reimbursement to the District for he actual labor and materials cost of all adult meals served, e) educational opportunities and services to the Ziegler Elementary School community including a minimum of two field trips, two teacher seminars, two parent seminars, and four ‘Culinary Classroom’ events regarding the ‘Eatiquette’ family style program and the benefits of fresh food, and f) assistance to school personnel in recruiting unpaid parent and/or staff volunteers to sit with children during lunch to facilitate proper and appropriate family-style interaction.
The District, via the Food Services Division, agrees to provide incremental labor and materials to Zeigler Elementary School during the 2016-17 school year from among existing food service budgets to offset higher staffing and food expenses resulting from operation of the ‘Eatiquette’ program’s student meal delivery model. These additional budget amounts will be sourced from current Cafeteria Fund resources and will not result in any decrease in available funds for Zeigler Elementary school personnel or other educational needs.
Total incremental Food Service Division costs for the 2016-17 school year for operation of the ‘Eatiquette’ program at this school location will not exceed $150,000 for additional labor and food expenses. The Food Services Division is supportive of continuation of this program at Ziegler Elementary School and service expansion from one to five days per week due to the past demonstrated success of this program at this location.
ABC Code/Funding Source N/A
APPS ANALYSIS: What a wonderful program! Every school should have one.
A-14 (Pending)
Renaissance Schools Initiative: Approval of Renaissance Charter School License Agreement with John Wister Mastery Charter School
A-15 (Pending)
Renaissance Schools Initiative: Approval of Renaissance Charter School License Agreement with Global Leadership Academy Southwest at Huey Charter School (Pending)
APPS: Why are these license agreements marked as “Pending”? Both Huey and Wister schools have already opened with these charter operators. Why the delay with approving the license agreement?
General Counsel
A-18 (Updated 9.2.16)
Operating Budget: $3,401,232 Amendment of Authorization to Retain and Pay Outside Counsel Fees & Costs
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Interim General Counsel, to amend the authorization to retain and pay outside counsel, originally authorized pursuant to Resolution No. A-31, approved by the School Reform Commission on June 18, 2016, retaining the following law firms and attorneys as outside counsel to represent the School Reform Commission, The School District of Philadelphia and its employees, and to pay counsel fees and related costs and expenses including, but not limited to, court filing fees, deposition transcripts, expert witness fees, arbitrator and mediator fees and other professional costs, not to exceed $500,000 for fees and costs per matter (except not to exceed $750,000 for fees and costs for audits and investigations and labor negotiations), by increasing the amount of the authorization by an additional $3,401,232, from the $2,214,809, approved by Resolution No. A-31, to an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,616,041, and by extending the term of the authorization from its scheduled expiration date of October 31, 2016 through June 30, 2017: Ahmad Zaffarese, LLC; Archer & Greiner, P.C.; Assigned Counsel Incorporated (temporary attorneys and paralegals); Ballard Spahr LLP; Bazelon Less & Feldman, P.C.; Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg LLC; Blank Rome LLP; Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC; Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney P.C.; Clark Hill PLC; Cozen O’Connor; Dilworth Paxson LLP; Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC Fineman, Krekstein & Harris, P.C.; Fox Rothschild LLP; Garcia, Rudolph; Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller; Hogan Lovells; Joyce Carmody & Moran, P.C.; King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC; Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP ; Kolber & Randazzo, P.C.; Law Office of Dolores Rocco Kulp; Levin Legal Group; Manko Gold Katcher Fox LLP; Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin; Pepper Hamilton, LLP; Rafaelle & Puppio, LLC; Saul Ewing, LLP; Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, LLP; Law Offices of Richard A. Stoloff; Swartz Campbell, LLP; Tucker Law Group LLC; White and Williams LLP; Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Description: The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides the School District and the School Reform Commission with comprehensive legal services and support in the practice areas of Torts and Civil Rights Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment, Special Education, Claims, Contracts and Procurement, Real Estate, regulatory matters and School Law. The District retains outside counsel for legal assistance in practice areas complex and impact litigation, environmental law, intellectual property, complex real estate and financial transactions, business and corporate law advice, including labor negotiations, appellate litigation, investigations and audits, pension and profit-sharing plans and other employee benefit plans.
The Office of General Counsel works cooperatively with outside counsel to negotiate reasonable hourly rates, to develop guidelines and strategies for defense, negotiation, settlement and appeals, to manage the work product of outside counsel and to assist outside counsel in acquiring the information they need in order to function at the highest level and to resolve legal matters of the School District and to review and approve bills for attorney’s fees and costs.
As part of a reorganization of OGC, and with the services of a consultant, last year’s list of approved Outside Counsel was renewed by Resolution No. A-31, approved by the School Reform Commission on June 18, 2016, through October 31, 2016, pending completion of a new competitive process.
The Office of General Counsel and Office of Procurement Services issued a Request for Qualifications for outside counsel services in June 2016 (RFQ 161). Thirty-two law firms, one attorney and one placement agency responded to the RFQ. After an evaluation process, which includes a diversity questionnaire, the law firms and agencies listed in the Resolved paragraph were found to be qualified. This resolution seeks authority to engage outside counsel commencing October 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, for an aggregate amount for FY 17 of $5,616,041.
ABC Code/Funding Source $3,401,232.00 1100-051-9370-2355-3311 Operating
APPS ANALYSIS: THE SRC and District went all the way to the State Supreme Court to overturn lower court rulings as they battled the PFT and terminated the contract. Despite two lower court rulings upholding the PFT, the SRC and District decided to appeal to the state Supreme Court. How much did that cost? When the counselors were all laid off what did the SRC and District do but go to the courts to uphold their decision. They lost. Now Dr. Hite claims responsibility for putting a counselor in every school despite trying to block the PFT efforts to retain school counselors. APPS has been involved in a lawsuit as well charging the SRC, District and chair Green with violating the state Sunshine Act. What did they do? Hire an outside law firm for representation. Stop wasting money on lawyers and start investing in classrooms.
B-3
Categorical/Grant Fund: $250,000 Acceptance of Reward School Grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to accept, if awarded, competitive grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the benefit of schools designated by the Department of Education as Reward Schools due to high student achievement or high growth in student achievement, for an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000, for the period commencing September 16, 2016 through September 30, 2017, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, contingent upon receipt of this grant, to execute, deliver and perform a contract with Children’s Literacy Initiative for professional services providing a Writing Workshop Seminar for all K-3 teachers at William Loesche Elementary School, for an amount not to exceed $50,000, for the period commencing September 16, 2016 through September 30, 2017.
Description: Pennsylvania Department of Education has made federal grants available on a competitive basis to schools designated as Reward Schools due to high student achievement or high growth in student achievement to promote the expansion of best practices of Reward Schools, as two (2) separate types of grants: Innovation and Collaborative. Innovation grants for Reward Schools promote the implementation of new learning structures and processes designed to meet individual student needs. The Reward school must identify their best practices that enable the students to continue to achieve at high levels. The narrative for the grant is linked to the school’s School Performance Profile (SPP) and identifies the steps they take to not only achieve but excel at all four Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs). Collaboration grants promote collaboration between Reward Schools and Focus Schools to implement the best practices of the Reward School. In such case, both schools must outline their plans to achieve (or continue/expand on) success in AMOs. As these grants are awarded to Reward and Focus schools, the Reward school makes a commitment to work with a Focus School within its respective geographic region. The schools develop measurable outcomes in one or more of the defined areas of need based on the School Performance Profile. The Reward School must describe the criteria or process used to identify its selection and how the collaboration will assist the Focus School in meeting its goal(s). Together, both schools will work collaboratively to create goals that will address the Annual Measurable Objective(s) that were not achieved by the Focus school, demonstrating its cooperation and outlining its plan to increase student achievement in those areas. Both schools use data to demonstrate how their outcomes will be connected to their goals.
The Reward designated schools submitting proposals in the current year are: Loesche, Baldi, Carver, Central High, Franklin Learning Center, Hancock, McCall, Bache and Science Leadership Academy. Each application identified best practices contributing to the school’s success and proposed activities to expand on that success with grant funding. Funds were requested to support the continuation of activities such as: professional development, extracurricular activities, purchasing technology, instructional programs, etc. McCall submitted both an Innovation Grant application in addition to a Collaborative Grant. The latter application included a plan to collaborate with the nearby Bache school (PDE designated Focus School) making resources available to bring best practices to Bache as well as expanding resources at McCall. Award Amounts for Innovation Grants are $50,000 maximum for each Reward School grantee. Collaboration Grants are $50,000 maximum for each mentoring Reward School grantee and $50,000 maximum for each partnered Focus School grantee. The total amount requested in all applications submitted was $250,000.
ABC Code/Funding Source $250,000.00
APPS ANALYSIS: How about an equitable funding formula so that every school has access to the resources needed for their students? Competition has no place in school funding until every school has what is necessary to provide a well-rounded education for every student.
Academic – Payments/Contracts
B-5
Categorical/Grant Fund: $52,551 Contract Amendment with the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation – Building Bridges with Books
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to execute, deliver, and perform a second amendment of a contract with the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, originally authorized pursuant to Resolution B-6, approved by the School Reform Commission on November 20, 2014, and further amended pursuant to Resolution B-6, approved by the School Reform Commission on February 19, 2015, by increasing the amount of the contract by an additional $52,551 from the approved $234,915 by Resolution B-6 on February 19, 2015, to an amount not to exceed $287,466, to coordinate and manage book distribution, on- line support from local librarians, and community-based family literacy activities, for the period commencing October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017.
Description: As part of the District’s Anchor Goal #2 work, ensuring that every child is a proficient reader no later than age 8, the School District of Philadelphia and the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation (FLP) worked together to craft a funding proposal in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grant competition, which is designed to meet the following objectives in 10 of the District’s lowest-performing elementary schools: (a) improve curriculum and instruction for students; (b) re-invigorate student learning environments, especially in light of the loss of library staff in many of our schools; and (c) train and meaningfully engage parents and caregivers in the improvement of their children’s literacy skills. The USDOE initially awarded the grant funding to the School District for implementation in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years, and just recently approved the District’s request to use unspent grant funding to extend grant activities into the 2016-17 school year. Key leadership and program personnel from both the District and FLP see the resulting, collaborative “Building Bridges with Books: Uniting Schools, Public Libraries and Families” (or ”B3″) initiative as the perfect environment in which to deepen their existing relationship, and intend to achieve the various mission objectives noted above by extending and amending the contract with the FLP through September 30, 2017. Specifically, FLP will continue to coordinate and manage book distribution, provide on-line support, oversee classroom trips to the libraries, facilitate librarian visits to the schools and manage community-based family literacy activities.
ABC Code/Funding Source $52,551.00 38DX-G01-9CE0-2296-3291 Federal Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant
APPS ANALYSIS: The Free Library should be fighting for an equitable funding formula. The Free Library is not a substitute for a school library staffed with a certified school librarian. Non-profits are attempting to replace school staff instead of demanding their reinstatement. Whether it’s volunteers running a school library or tutors taking the place of classroom assistants. These programs should supplement what exists in the school not creating a new category of services. It’s admirable that people want to volunteer but what our students need and deserve is adequate staffing within the school to provide these supports.
B-6
Categorical/Grant Fund: $4,800 Ratification of Amendments of Contracts with Various Vendors; Acceptance of Pre-K Expansion Funding from the City of Philadelphia; Amendments of Contracts with Various Vendors – Preschool Programs
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission hereby ratifies the execution, delivery, and performance by the School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent, of amendments of contracts to be entered into with each of the following providers of comprehensive pre-k program services, originally authorized pursuant to Resolution No. B-27, approved by the School Reform Commission on June 16, 2016, by increasing the aggregate amount of the contracts by an additional $4,800 from the $51,923,665 approved in Resolution B-27, to an aggregate amount not to exceed $51,928,465, for the period commencing July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, in the specific individual amounts and for the reason/circumstances indicated below:
Brightside Academy, contract to be decreased by $143,400, from the $4,761,000 approved in above- referenced resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $4,617,600, in order to support the operation of 20 fewer pre-k service slots (for a new total of 640 students);
Grace Neighborhood Development Corp., contract to be decreased by $286,800, from the $1,767,450 approved in above-referenced resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $1,480,650, in order to support the operation of 40 fewer pre-k service slots (for a new total of 205 students);
Ann Kids Corp, contract increased by $4,800 from the $143,400 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $148,200, in order to align the per-child allotment with the designated funding source (maintaining a total of 20 students);
Creative Learning Environments, contract increased by $143,400 from the $408,690 approved in above- referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $552,090, in order to support the operation of 20 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 77 students);
Kinder Academy, contract increased by $143,400 from the $1,701,780 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $1,845,180, in order to support the operation of 20 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 254 students); and
Little People’s Village, contract increased by $143,400 from the $741,000 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $884,400, in order to support the operation of 20 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 120 students); and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes the School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to accept as of September 16, 2016, if awarded, Pre-K Program Expansion funding from the City of Philadelphia, for an amount not to exceed $3,906,600, to provide comprehensive preschool services to an additional 766 age-eligible children and their families citywide during the scheduled implementation period January 1, 2017 through June 30, 2017; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes the School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, contingent upon receipt of this supplemental program funding, to execute, deliver and perform amendments of contracts for the targeted implementation period January 1 to June 30, 2017 to be entered into with each of the following providers of comprehensive pre-k program services, originally authorized pursuant to Resolution No. B-27, approved by the School Reform Commission on June 16, 2016, and in some cases further augmented by the ratifying action contained in the initial “resolved” section of this resolution, by increasing the aggregate value of the contracts by an additional $3,491,280 from the $51,928,465 established through Resolution B-27 and the above-referenced ratification, to an aggregate value not to exceed $55,419,745, in the specific individual amounts and for the reason/circumstances indicated below:
AlGen Holding Company, contract increased by $280,800 from the $1,543,980 approved in above- referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $1,824,780, in order to support the operation of 60 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 274 students);
Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha, contract increased by $280,800 from the $3,338,910 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $3,619,710, in order to support the operation of 60 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 523 students);
Brightside Academy, contract increased by $187,200 from the $4,617,600 established by above- referenced Resolution B-27 and the initial “resolved” (ratifying) section of this action, to an amount not to exceed $4,804,800, in order to support the operation of 40 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 680 students);
Caring People Alliance, contract increased by $187,200 from the $1,324,200 approved in above- referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $1,511,400, in order to support the operation of 40 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 220 students);
Children’s Village, contract increased by $117,000 from the $1,446,945 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $1,563,945, in order to support the operation of 25 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 236 students);
Creative Learning Environments, contract increased by $187,200 from the $552,090 established by above-referenced Resolution B-27 and the initial “resolved” (ratifying) section of this action, to an amount not to exceed $739,290, in order to support the operation of 40 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 117 students);
Federation Day Care Services, contract increased by $70,200 from the $895,440 approved in above- referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $965,640, in order to support the operation of 15 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 134 students);
Grace Neighborhood Development Corp., contract increased by $93,600 from the $1,480,650 established by above-referenced Resolution B-27 and the initial “resolved” (ratifying) section of this action, to an amount not to exceed $1,574,250, in order to support the operation of 20 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 225 students);
Kinder Academy, contract increased by $93,600 from the $1,845,180 established by above-referenced
Resolution B-27 and the initial “resolved” (ratifying) section of this action, to an amount not to exceed $1,938,780, in order to support the operation of 20 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 274 students);
Methodist Family Services of Philadelphia, contract increased by $257,400 from the $272,460 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $529,860, in order to support the operation of 55 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 93 students);
Montgomery Early Learning Centers, contract increased by $140,400 from the $448,200 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $588,600, in order to support the operation of 30 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 90 students);
Special People in Northeast, contract increased by $243,360 from the $3,270,000 approved in above- referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $3,513,360, in order to support the operation of 52 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 489 students);
The Caring Center, contract increased by $351,000 from the $149,100 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $500,100, in order to support the operation of 75 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 95 students);
The Lighthouse, contract increased by $187,200 from the $1,290,600 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $1,477,800, in order to support the operation of 40 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 220 students);
YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity, contract increased by $374,400 from the $960,690 approved in above- referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $1,335,090, in order to support the operation of 80 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 229 students);
Young World Early Learning Center, contract increased by $65,520 from the $335,820 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $401,340, in order to support the operation of 14 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 60 students); and
Your Child’s World Learning Center, contract increased by $374,400 from the $2,525,160 approved in above-referenced Resolution B-27, to an amount not to exceed $2,899,560, in order to support the operation of 80 additional pre-k service slots (for a new total of 428 students); and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, contingent upon receipt of this supplemental program funding, to execute, deliver and perform a further amendment of Contract No. 243A/F14 (557/F16), originally entered into with Nulinx International Inc., pursuant to Resolution No. B-6, approved by the School Reform Commission on January 21, 2016, to support expanded utilization of the Child Outcome, Planning and Administration (COPA) system for the management of data related to its citywide prekindergarten programming, by increasing the amount of the contract by an additional $10,000 from the $625,000 approved by Resolution B-6, to an amount not to exceed $635,000.
Description: The ratification component of this resolution is being requested in accordance with SRC Policy 820, Subsection 8, regarding acceptance and utilization of grant funding. The primary objectives of this particular resolution are: 1) to reallocate a total of 80 high-quality, comprehensive preschool service slots funded through FY17 Head Start continuation grants to the School District that were scheduled to be operated by community-based agencies that have recently reduced their available capacity projections at associated program implementation sites; and 2) to newly acquire nearly 800 additional high-quality preschool service slots to be supported by FY17 pre-k program expansion funding being offered by the City of Philadelphia, the acceptance of which, in the event of an award, as well as the commensurate expansion of our proprietary data management system (COPA) agreement, have also been proposed for SRC approval through this resolution.
The nominal overall modifications to SDP’s current pre-k service structure being proposed through this resolution have already been reviewed and provisionally approved by all relevant funding agencies.
ABC Code/Funding Source $4,800.00 216X-G01-9390-1807-3291 Federal Head Start Basic Continuation Grant ($286,800.00) 4E1X-G01-9150-1807-3291 PA Pre-K Counts Grant Program ($4,800.00) 4A0X-G01-9390-1807-3291 PA Head Start Supplemental Assistance Grant Program ($143,400.00) 4XXX-G01-9150-1807-3291 City-funded Pre-K Program Expansion Funding ($3,501,280.00)
APPS ANALYSIS: According to this Resolution the District will be acquiring almost 800 preschool service slots that will be contracted out to community partners. Who is monitoring these programs? In 2013 Dr. Hite announced the outsourcing of 2,000 Headstart slots as he began his mission to downsize. District Headstart classes all have certified teachers and are in buildings monitored for safety and health. With the passage of the Soda Tax comes millions to support new preschool seats. According to this article from City & State PA the lone bidder to manage the city’s expanded pre-K program is a joint application submitted by the Greater Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC). The UAC is “heavily connected to state representative-turned presumptive Congressman Dwight Evans” who played a critical role in getting Kenney elected last year.
B-9 (Updated 9.7.16)
Establishment of a New School: Vaux High School – The Big Picture High School
RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, establish Vaux High School: A Big Picture School, a high school for grades 9 to 12 with a total enrollment of 500 students and which shall open in the 2017-18 school year with 125 students in the 9th grade, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Reform Commission authorizes The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee to prepare, execute, and file all documents necessary to obtain approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to establish Vaux High School: A Big Picture School commencing in the 2017-18 school year.
Description: The School District of Philadelphia plans to open Vaux High School: A Big Picture School (Vaux BPS) as a new high school in the 2017-2018 school year with at least 125 students in the 9th grade. Vaux BPS will grow a grade each year so that in the 2020-2021 school year, it will have grades 9 through 12. The plan is to locate the school in the Sharswood neighborhood of the city in the former Vaux High School Building. Final building and school contract details will be presented for SRC approval in subsequent resolutions. Vaux BPS will be a non-selective, public school option that primarily serves neighborhood children using an applied-learning school model. A Pre-K Program and social services will also be located in the building.
The high school will be a contract school that represents the school district¿s role in a large, multi-year neighborhood redevelopment project of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). Vaux BPS will represent a collaboration with Big Picture Learning Philadelphia and PHA.
The purpose of Vaux High School: A Big Picture School is to provide students with a highly personalized educational program that employs applied learning in real-world contexts, deep and sustained relationships with parents and the community, and seamless post-secondary transition programs. Specific goals of Vaux BPS include successful graduation of students who possess the academic, social, and workplace competencies to find employment they enjoy, to successfully engage in post-secondary learning opportunities, and to productively “give back” to their community and to the global world. Vaux BPS fosters a culture where all stakeholders, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic attainment, value each other and work together toward an interdependent, safe, and nurturing community.
The Vaux BPS school design was developed by Big Picture Learning, a national nonprofit organization with a proven track record of working with urban students in a non-selective environment. It has a network with over 50 schools in the United States and another 75 located in several countries around the world. The Vaux BPS design, like that of all schools in the Big Picture Learning network, is based on three essential philosophical elements Relationships, Relevance, and Rigor to ensure that all students are engaged in deep, productive, and sustained learning.
Key shared principles:
1. High quality educational opportunities available for Sharswood residents
- A public high school option – “contract school” – that preferences catchment students
- Pre-K seats available at the school
- K-8 investments will be made at existing neighborhood schools
This new school model will be rigorous and significantly aligned to the Common Core State Standards and include a strong focus on 21st Century Skills.
APPS ANALYSIS: A contract school is when the District hires an EMO to run a school. In 2001 the District contracted with Edison, Victory, and Foundations to manage over 20 schools. They used “Thin Management” meaning that they had no control over hiring and firing. They brought in new curriculum. All of the EMOs were gone by 2010 after a dismal performance record. A contract school allows management to control everything from hiring to curriculum. This opens the door for closing more neighborhood schools and simply turning the building over to a private company or non-profit (like Big Picture) to manage. This Resolution is for a high school that provides PreK. Who oversees the PreK program?
Big Picture states that“K-8 investments will be made in existing neighborhood schools.” How will this occur? How will these schools be selected? Will stakeholders have a say in this process? Who is overseeing this “investment”? Big Picture will receive public funding but will the public have a say in what happens? Who knew they were taking over Vaux School?
Some early help from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation fostered the growth of Big Picture schools. Today there are over 65 “network” schools including schools in Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, and Canada. What does this mean for local control?
Also see:
Mayor Kenney removes human relations commissioner after harassment settlement
Philadelphia Inquirer – September 14, 2016
Human Relations Commission Member Removed Day after Fox 29 Investigates Report
Fox29 – September 13, 2016
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 