Are we becoming the Upland-Chester School District?

Whew! We’ve got some brand new school district fodder to follow which is already contentious and confusing.

From what I gather, the school district is planning to build a new high school in Upland. It will be a public school with a magnet designation. One existing charter schools will operate it, and another charter school will help develop it, or something. 

My favorite quotes...

“Having a public magnet high school presents a wonderful opportunity for the district to continue to grow and work in a collaborative way with some of the existing charter schools...”

If you can’t beat em, join em?

The resolution enables the construction of a facility on the Upland estate of the late state Sen. Clarence Bell.

It’s not like there’s any vacant land in Chester to build a new school.

...priority is to create a magnet school in conjunction with the district, but wants the ability to create a joint charter high school with Widener Partnership in the event the magnet school does not become a reality.

I don’t have a clue what that means. 

...the magnet school would provide opportunities to collaborate resources and professional development with Chester High School. She said Widener University remains committed to helping Chester Upland enhance its educational programs in addition to operating Widener Partnership.

Why not just put all the resources into the existing Chester High School?

Chester Upland has the capacity to open such a school on its own.

Why would they want to open another high school if the existing high school isn’t filled to capacity?

...residents were not included in the planning process.

Hello! When have the residents planned anything regarding education? They don’t show up to parent-teacher nights or school board meetings in large numbers. In the interest of time, I'm sure Mr. Receiver just bypassed that step. 

In passing the resolution, Watkins said he would form a committee of community residents to join the planning process.

Oh boy. More meetings with Mr. Receiver telling us what he’s going to do.

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