YorkCounts: Convert city school district to charter schools

 

A YorkCounts education work group has suggested that turning the York City School District into a 100 percent community charter school system could be one of the "sweeping institutional changes" needed to transform the district.

YorkCounts, an initiative of the York County Community Foundation, formed the group over the summer to look at ways to improve education in York. The group presented its recommendations to the advisory committee working on the York City School District's financial recovery process on Wednesday.

"The conclusion we came to pretty quickly was dramatic and swift change is needed," said Eric Menzer, chairman of the group. Read the documents below

Members of the group said the elements of the "crisis," in York include low academic performance, district finances, the concentration of poverty in the district, instability in leadership and a lack of community confidence in the district.

The group, looking for an idea that would benefit all students and have a systemic impact, considered several options and concluded an all-charter system would be the most promising.

The idea would involve the district seeking proposals from high-performing, nonprofit charter operators to operate the schools. He cited examples of successful charters in places including Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

It would require a "complete change" in how the York community approaches the district's relationship with charters, he said, noting charters have been the subject of conflict for many years.

"The district would control the process," he said, rather than react to outside parties wanting to start charters.

He acknowledged that the issue of funding would have to be addressed and that legislation to improve charter school accountability

would also be needed.

Menzer said another challenge might be getting the "very best national charter operators" interested in running schools in York.

The group also recommends incorporating the "Community Schools" approach, a national model that focuses on students' needs beyond academics. The model would involve "massive community engagement," Menzer said, not a feel-good effort to try to get parents more involved.

Questions raised

Michael Miller, a city school board member in the audience, asked how the recommendation would address the concern raised about the concentration of poverty.

Menzer said the charter option could allow for modeling after York Academy Regional Charter School, which was chartered by three school districts including York City and has students from other districts as well.

The group considered other options, like district consolidation, but backed away from any idea that seemed like it would have little chance of being feasible, he said.

There were other questions without clear answers, such as what would happen with existing charter schools or existing teachers, timelines, and potential costs.

The advisory committee is working with David Meckley, the state-appointed chief recovery officer for the district, on coming up with a financial recovery plan for turning the district around.

Meckley said the YorkCounts idea is one alternative the committee could consider and get more answers if the committee decides to investigate it further.

Genevieve Ray, a member of the committee, said the YorkCounts group set a "nice high bar" for the committee.

Meckley, who had previously been involved with the YorkCounts group but stepped away once he was appointed recovery officer, said after the meeting that the YorkCounts recommendation only bears more weight "if it's a great idea."

It doesn't matter where an idea comes from, he said, "it's the substance of it."

 

 

Community reaction

 

Kim Bracey, York's mayor and a member of the YorkCounts group, was in the audience for Wednesday night's meeting.

"I'm for whatever helps the students, whatever helps our kids," she said during the presentation.

 

City Councilwoman Renee Nelson, who's currently finishing a teaching degree, said of the situation via email, "it makes me want to cry."

"I would hope that the state has another solution or more funds available," she said. "It's not fair to students."

 

Bob and Karen Sweitzer were in the audience for the meeting. The pair attended York City School District, and said they met years ago in middle school. They recently celebrated 43 years of marriage.

"You can still get a good education in York City schools if you apply yourself," Bob Sweitzer said, adding it's too early to judge the plan for a path forward. "The education is there for the taking."

Karen Sweitzer said the couple plans to attend all of the upcoming recovery committee meetings.

"I think they've got a lot of work ahead," she said.

 

Tanoue-onishi Sweeney, a security officer with the district, said it's unclear if the all-charter school proposal is the right answer in the city. What is clear, the longtime city resident said, is that the district needs to regain a sense of community that's been lost.

"We need to get some of that spirit going again, where kids want to come to school," she said. "(Years ago) you wanted to be a Bearcat, and we need that back again."

 

Kim Schwarz, the city teachers' union president and a member of the financial recovery advisory committee, said she thinks the YorkCounts recommendations have merit, but she also has questions.

"Obviously, our first priority is students," she said, but she also thinks about the teachers. "No information was really provided regarding how this would impact our members, just that it would."

 

Margie Orr, president of the York City School Board and a member of the advisory committee, said the YorkCounts presentation wasn't entirely a surprise. She said the committee needs to discuss it and look at all the ramifications of it.

Staff writer Tim Stonesifer contributed to this report.

 

 

@angiemason1; 771-2048

 

Read the YorkCounts plan

Ways to see the notes

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Also of interest

Check out these stories and photos of achievers from York High's past