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30-day extension = better plan

RECOVERY PLAN UPDATE Chester Upland School District Chief Recovery Officer Joseph P. Watkins Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education 5 th Public Meeting October 16, 2012 Chester High School. 30-day extension = better plan. Previously planned to issue Recovery Plan today

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30-day extension = better plan

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  1. RECOVERY PLAN UPDATE Chester Upland School DistrictChief Recovery Officer Joseph P. WatkinsCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Education 5th Public MeetingOctober 16, 2012Chester High School ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  2. 30-day extension = better plan • Previously planned to issue Recovery Plan today • Ed Secretary granted 30-day extension this a.m. • Significant progress in developing framework for plan to turn district around • But issues identified that can strengthen plan – if developed more fully • Determining right number of schools • Operational capacity of schools now at less than 40% • Determining appropriate staffing • Creative incentives to adjust workforce? • Time will allow for more robust, substantive discussion of options with community • Plan now due Nov. 15 ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  3. New law is designed to help school districts in financial distress • Act 141 Recovery Plan enacted in July • Education Secretary appointed CUSD CRO August 17 • CRO’s job is to develop recovery plan to bring district back to solvency, raise student achievement • Plan’s goal is to give children education they deserve • High performing schools • All students graduating • Good preparation for college or trade schools • We must live within our means ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  4. Recovery plan is 1st step in saving district … if plan is implemented • High performing schools • Parents choose public schools for their kids • Model urban district … if nothing changes • $196million in debt in 5 years • Exodus to charters continues • End to CUSD as it exists • Goal is to transform culture to one of success • In the classroom • In the principal’s office • At school board meetings • The future: ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  5. Principle is to put children 1st • Every child deserves opportunity to succeed • Equip every child with skills to graduate and go to college or trade school • Plan starts with financial baseline, with operations scaled to match available resources • Parents, educators & community leaders must work as partners • Everyone in community is accountable for success ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  6. CUSD has been ailing academically for 20 years Crisis has been status quo in district • Until mid-2010 CUSD under state oversight for 20 years • Even with interventions, district failed to effectively educate children ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  7. CUSD enrollment has declined in recent years • Schools grossly underutilized ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  8. Other expenses at issue • Loss of students to charters • Money follows the student • September enrollment dropped by 1,000 • Classroom size • Classroom size range from 11-30 pupils ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  9. CUSD has been ailing financially for 20 years • Last spring District almost ran out of money • Facing current gap of $3.2 million • Facing cumulative shortfall of $196.1 million in 5 years ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  10. What's next • Development of more data on the costs and impact of different numbers and alignments of schools • Alternatives for staff configuration in a District currently experiencing lower enrollment • Follow up on emerging information that could affect the plan’s assumptions, including 2012-13 enrollment figures and revisions to the 2012-13 budget • More input from the School Board and community, with better opportunity for dialogue as more detailed cost information on options becomes available ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

  11. After the plan is presented, here’s what’s next.___________________________________________ • Once plan is presented, school board has 10 days to approve it • If board fails to do that, state will seek to put district into receivership • If the board approves the plan, CRO sends to Education Secretary within 5 days; Secretary has 10 days to approve/reject • If rejected, CRO must present a revised plan within 20 days • Once plan receives final approval by the state, implementation begins This may seem fast, but our children don’t have time to wait. ACT 141 RECOVERY PLAN FOR CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

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