by Ilene Poses, June 24, 2021
Vote no on Action Item 70 – No to Collegiate Charter! The problems raised by the CSO were never addressed in the revised application. Community outreach needs to be more than hiring a P.R. firm or writing a letter to the Inquirer. As Dr. Chao said there’s insufficient demand in their targeted area for a new charter.
Quiara Allegria Hudes, playwright and producer of “In the Heights”, Central grad and PYP winner stated in a 6/12/21 NY Times interview: “Sometimes American mass culture focuses too much on individualism at the expense of community care and community experience.” It is why neighborhood schools are so important and why the Board needs to end Renaissance charters – a failed, expensive initiative – and turn them back into district, neighborhood schools again. Not only did the academics not rise at Renaissance Charters but the percentage of neighborhood children at these schools keeps dropping.
What the World Needs Now (Burt Bacharach)
What the schools need now is personnel
It’s the thing – that helps – our children – to excel
What the schools need now are more playgrounds
No, not just for some but enough to go around.
Board, we don’t need more sub-par charters
Renewals make – finances harder
We don’t need – more test scores – analyzed
Not when stress- is on the rise.
What the schools – need now- is small – class size
More support staff – can make – academics rise
What the kids – need now- are safe, clean schools
No not just for some, but for everyone.
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 