I hate to say that I told you so, but I told you so.
Starting back in March 2011, I announced that Chester-Upland state budget cuts were the highest in the state. I thought that news would be enough to get folks engaged, but the vigils didn’t start until yesterday.
Governor Corbett came to Chester to visit the Charter school and no one got in his face. In fact, the Chester-Upland acting super at the time was quoted as saying that Corbett would have been welcome to visit their schools. HUH?
The entire summer went by with hardly any action by parents or administrators (that we know of). Preliminary budget meetings had 50 people in the audience. Even Dexter Davis was shocked.
Finally, administrators started laying off teachers and combining schools just weeks before school started and people started to see the seriousness of the issue.
But, to your credit, 91% didn’t believe the district could survive a $20 million budget cut according the May 30, 2011 survey. Yet, on the December 30, 2011 survey, 74% said the schools will open in January despite the fact that it was known that there wasn’t enough money to pay the teachers. What world are you living in?
And a commenter told me that I pick on the schools too much. Lawd!
If only on paper, I wish the school board would have laid out for the community this summer what the district would look like if it operated within budget. Maybe people would have gotten serious earlier. But to keep operating like we’ll get through this is crazy.
To have hope is one thing, but preaching hope with no money is deception.
I think this is a set up to dismantle the School District. If it happens, it would bring about severe chaos to parents that are "holding the line" at work and home.
ReplyDeleteStephan, I read your blog daily and like you I have been telling people that it is about to go down...for lack of a better phrase, and like you I have been told I pick on the schools, or I just doon't like the people in charge, or it's just Chester...that last one makes my skin crawl, the fact that so many of our residents won't get involved until it's too late or just late enough! But first I'll say sign my petition on Change.org, sencond I'll say give me some contact info because myself and some concerned citizens have somethings we are planning and I don't want you getting the news a day late.
ReplyDeleteEmail address is at the bottom of the blog page. 610.453.6501
DeleteOn Facebook and in varied newspapers, see many “outsiders” negative comments about those who live in CUSD…(scum, trash, low-life, etc) & how “those people” do not pay their taxes…Wow. The individual compare CUSD to Essington, Marcus Hook, Chi, Trainer)? Are they serious…they have the same issues—crime, trashed neighborhoods, poor education & people not paying their taxes…Wake up jokers! You are pointing one finger – the other 4 fingers are pointing @ you! What office have you been elected to? How many business have you run? How many children have you mentored to?
ReplyDeleteProcess of elimination...Who is in charge of the BUDGET for CUSD? Start there. In most organizations, when you dont do your job...your fired. Why has this been allowed to go on for years? No Mr. Roots, you have not be picking on CUSD, but trying to get our attention to the matter at hand. A former employee said that things that needed to be handled (grants, paperwork, etc) would just lay on desks as deadlines passed. Who is accountable for this mess. Get someone in this spot who has proven ability to manage an organization and it does not have to be a person that has worked for the school district. Chester has many intelligent, educated people WITH INTEGRITY & WORK HARD, who can do this!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, there are a lot of bright people in Chester but they are silenced or stay silent because no one, as Chris Rock puts it, wants to hear anything from a "Smarty Arty!"
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