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"Freedom of choice is a fundamental right that every parent is entitled to in any city across the United States, but especially here in Chester," said Chester Community Charter School CAO Steven Lee, before the matter was tabled.
"Our parents have clearly made a choice and to deny them this freedom is immoral, unethical and, most importantly, illegal," said Lee, whose school draws the largest percentage of charter students in the district.
Chester Community and Widener Partnership Charter School, which opened this year with 100 kindergarten and first-grade students, have both advised the board if it goes through with the resolution, estimated to save the district $156 million over the next five years, legal action will follow.
Lee received a standing ovation from the three-fourths or so of the audience who apparently agreed with him. That same number streamed out the doors after the motion was tabled.
"We’re worried about our kids," summed up Lanelle Edwards, a nurse at Chester Community who has a granddaughter at the school. She cited large-scale fights, staffing deficiencies, a lack of materials and other problems that have plagued Chester Upland this school year.
Anthony Johnson, a former board member of the struggling Village Charter School, said he pulled his child out of the charter and sent her to Toby Farms Elementary School, where he found she was reading far below grade level. A reading program there had her reading above grade level within four months, he added.
"I (chose) Village for four years and it failed my daughter," said Johnson. "Make sure your kids are getting educated."
Trina Barrett, another parent of Chester Community students, said she did the reverse after moving to Upper Darby -- removing one child from that school system to re-enroll him at CCCS. His brother is following suit.
Her kids won’t be attending Chester High School either, she said.
Meanwhile, the board continued restructuring the district by terminating Business Manager Eugene Cresta and solicitor Leo Hackett.
Cresta did not return calls for comment earlier in the day. Hackett, who said he submitted a voluntary resignation, prepared this statement:
"It has been my pleasure to serve as solicitor for (the district) for many years and to work with many people in the district dedicated to the welfare of the students of Chester Upland. ..I will continue with my pledge of $10,000 to reestablish the famous Chester High School Marching Band."
Hackett’s solicitor’s bills had averaged $30,000-$40,000 per month and he was estimated to earn about $325,000 per year from the financially strapped district, which has about $89 million in long term debt.
Wendy Beetlestone, of the firm representing the state in a long-running suit to place the district into financial receivership, will be taking Hackett’s place at $360 per hour up to a maximum of $10,000 per month.
Many regular meeting attendees applauded Thursday’s motions. One of these, resident Charlie Warren, also cautioned the board against selling two mothballed West Side schools -- the Dewey Mann School and William Penn Elementary School. The board approved their sale for a combined $1.4 million.
