"Confidential" Plan for financially distressed PA. public schools - turn all into charters

[JPZenger]

http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-27/news/30670737_1_chester-upland-distressed-districts-duquesne-city

PA.'s Republican Governor, Tom Corbett, is very similar to Wisconsin's Gov. Walker, but Corbett is so quiet and boring that no one pays attention to what he is doing.

There are two school districts in PA. that are financially collapsing right now, and many more to come. A "confidential draft" Corbett administration plan would cancel all of the teachers contracts in these distressed districts, and then turn all of the schools in the district into publicly funded but privately-run charter schools. Maybe at that time, once Corbett's buddies run them, the schools will receive the funds they need to operate.

The poverty-striken Chester-Upland public schools have completely run out of operating funds. Those public schools would have closed if teachers had not been willing to work without pay, and if a federal judge had not ordered the state to make an emergency payment of a couple million dollars to keep the doors open. Meanwhile, State dollars are being used to pay a management fee of $5,000 to the corporation that runs the largest private charter school in the district. The owners of that charter school management company were the largest contributors in the 2010 PA. elections.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/education/pennsylvania-schools-funding-fight-pits-district-against-charter.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp
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Much more on the PA. Republican plans to crush public schools and public universities in PA at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1074

$860 million was already cut from PA. Public education funding last year.
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According to the Phila. Inquirer, Gov. Corbett tomorrow will propose another 30% cut to the largest public universities and 20% cut to other public universities, on top of the 20 to 25% budget cuts that went into effect last year.

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Here's the rest of Governor Corbett's 12 Point Plan to Balance the Pennsylvania State Budget:

12. Invade West Virginia, to take over their gas wells.

11. Charge the State Police rent.

10. Sell cigars with school lunches.

9. Deport everyone who is disabled.

8. Legalize slot machines in nursing homes.

7. 25 DUI checkpoints around each Penn State football game.

6. Accept food stamps as payment for tickets to political fundraisers.

5. Provide incentives for high school students to get pregnant, to grow the tax base.

4. Stop teaching math in public schools and colleges, so no one can question the budget.

3. Outsource the State Legislature to China.

2. Sell naming rights - such as "The Pennsylvania State Budget - Brought to you by Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation.

1. Sell T-shirts with the slogan: "Pennsylvania: Home of Tax Free Fracking."

(The State could also make a fortune by selling bottled water to people living near gas wells.)

This list is partly based upon a similar list written by Mr. Eric Epstein.

[DJ13]

1. then turn all of the schools in the district into publicly funded but privately-run charter schools

If theres no money to run these public schools, where does the money come from to pay a private company to run them?

[nanabugg]

2. Then the children with special needs will never be served. nt

Charter schools can be selective for numerous reasons. That's how the public schools get left with the problem children or children with special needs and makes their performance record lower than charter schools.

[Starry Messenger]

3. Well, once they hire hourly low-wage non-union teachers

that money that used to go to teacher salaries can go to a poor suffering charter school management company.

[The Genealogist]

4. Perhaps there will suddenly be a forgotten bankroll revealed?

My guess, if I am reading this situation as described here, the funding is being cut, so the schools will fail, then the schools will be turned into charter schools so rich people can get even richer. I am sure that money being funneled into the pockets of the already-rich will be found someplace. Seems it always is.

[blue neen]

6. Yes, indeedy.

That's exactly what's going on, unfortunately.

[blue neen]

5. Tom Corbett---"King Midas in Reverse"

Props to the Hollies!

"If you could only see me
I know exactly where I am
You wouldn't want to be me
Oh, I can assure you of that"

"I'm not the guy to run with
'cause I'll throw you off the line
I'll break you and destroy you
Given time"

"He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse"

"It's plain to see it's hopeless
Going on the way we are
So even though I'd lose you
You'd be better off by far"

"He's not the man to hold your trust
Everything he touches turns to dust
In his hands
Nothing he can do is right
He'd even like to sleep at night
But he can't"

"All he touches turns to dust"

"All he touches turns to dust"

"All he touches turns to dust"

"All he touches turns to dust"

"I wish someone would find me
And help me gain control
Before I lose my reason
And my soul"

"He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse"