COW Charter May Close Due to Low Enrollment

12 Comments Post your own or leave a trackback: Trackback URL

1. Paula says:

   October 12, 2013 at 2:26 pm

   Yeah!

   LikeLike

   Reply
2. Dee Dee says:

   October 12, 2013 at 2:27 pm

   This is a classic example of a waste of taxpayer money. I’m sure COW won’t give up. They will probably start spreading lies about the local school in an attempt to attract people from the local district.

   LikeLike

   Reply
3. Chiara says:

   October 12, 2013 at 2:50 pm

   So Ohio passed a law that says that districts have to offer a right of first refusal to charter schools when a publicly-owned school is slated for closure.

   In my district, we are attempting to pass a bond issue to build a new school which will replace two smaller schools that were built in 1916. We had planned to demolish the schools and sell one lot and create a park out of the second lot.

   We have a Christian school that was a private school but has now miraculously changed into a “public” charter school, under state laws that encourage the (paper) transformation of religious schools into (quasi) public schools.

   The Christian school that is now a “charter school” has low enrollment, but it also has two parents who are wealthy and donate a lot to the school. The school has low enrollment because our public school system is strong, with a lot of community support, and people here understand that it’s still a religious school (although they are now calling it a public charter school); it has simply adopted a different legal posture in order to gain public funding.

   If our bond passes, this community will be forced to sell publicly-owned property to a Christian/charter school when there is absolutely no support for this school in this community.

   What’s interesting is, I’m working with a group of parents and teachers on the bond campaign, all flavors of politics (although this a rural area, so most are conservatives) and there is BROAD opposition to this mandated sale.

   They resent that the state is promoting charters while abandoning our public schools.
   I’m heartened by that, and my hope is politicians will at some point have to respond, because the vast majority of kids attend public schools.

   LikeLike

   Reply
4. Green Party Teacher says:

   October 12, 2013 at 3:05 pm

   Not necessarily related, but interesting……
   I’m feeling depressed about the length of time I can continue in my public school under these conditions…..I went to craigslist, education job listings and it is littered with adds like this…………
   About I CAN SCHOOLS
   I CAN SCHOOLS is a non-profit, charter school management organization created in 2010 by the founding leaders of a highly successful, award-winning, urban school in Cleveland, Ohio. The mission of I CAN SCHOOLS is to prepare students for a college preparatory high school that ensures acceptance and graduation from a four year college and/or university. I CAN SCHOOLS is dedicated to providing all students with an education that supersedes standards of excellence. To learn about more about I CAN SCHOOLS visit us on the web at http://www.icanschools.org.

   Expectations
   Being a teacher for I CAN SCHOOLS is incredibly rewarding and requires candidates to possess an extraordinarily strong work ethic. A teacher for I CAN SCHOOLS can expect to work extended hours, create and sustain a quality learning environment where high academic and behavioral expectations are the norm, achieve high test scores, and be a healthy addition to our adult learning communities. We are seeking teachers who will “sweat the small stuff” and have a “no excuses” attitude. Teachers will be expected to do “whatever it takes” to close the achievement gap. I CAN SCHOOLS teachers must be able to work in a fast-paced environment where accountability and high expectations are upheld at all times. I CAN SCHOOLS teachers must possess a philosophy that 100% of our students will attend and graduate from a four year college and/or university.

   Specific Responsibilities
   • Use assessment data to refine curriculum and inform instructional practices
   • Participate in collaborative curriculum development, grade-level activities, and school-wide functions
   • Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues
   • Remain highly organized and meets deadlines 100% of the time
   • Create intentional lesson plans that support academic rigor and student engagement
   • Be relentless, serious and focused

   Qualifications
   • Proven track-record of high achievement in the classroom
   • Mastery of and enthusiasm for academic subjects
   • Evidence of self-motivation and willingness to be a team player
   • Bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s degree is preferred
   • Minimum of one year teaching experience in an urban public or charter school setting preferred, but not required
   • Valid State Certification is required
   • Belief in and alignment with I CAN SCHOOLS mission and vision is non-negotiable.
   • All Pre K- 3 Teachers must meet the requirements of Ohio HB 555 — The Third Grade Guarantee

   The Future of I CAN
   In 2013-2014 I CAN SCHOOLS expanded its locations to Maple Heights, Akron, and Canton, Ohio in addition to its already existing 4 campuses located in Cleveland. Local colleges and universities have partnered with I CAN SCHOOLS to provide teachers with a quality internship experience, ultimately driving student performance. I CAN SCHOOLS will continue its commitment, in collaboration with school leaders, classroom teachers and support staff, to obtain federal and local grants to assist with future network growth and financial needs to continue on the path of success as a high performing network of schools.

   Compensation
   I CAN SCHOOLS offers an exceptional benefit package to all full time employees through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio that include, medical, dental and vision. This package is one of the most competitive benefit packages offered to employees in the Cleveland area. I CAN SCHOOLS pays 90% of employee premiums only leaving employees to pay a minimal 10% premium each month. Employees participate in Ohio SERS (state employee retirement system). Additionally, I CAN SCHOOLS pays a 14% contribution to SERS and employees contribute a minimal 10%. I CAN SCHOOLS salary is competitive and ranked above most high performing charter schools in the State of Ohio.

   Working Conditions
   I CAN SCHOOLS boast meticulously clean buildings, intentionally placed print, and an extremely safe teaching environment. All classroom teachers are equipped with the tools needed to succeed, including a dedicated work space, laptop computer, a network wide email account, high-speed internet access, and all necessary teaching supplies. I CAN SCHOOL buildings are Wi-Fi accessible for use with all mobile devices.

   Bonus Opportunities and Extras
   At I CAN SCHOOLS we offer a stipend for teaching Saturday School and summer student recruitment. In addition to that, teachers have the opportunity of earning a yearly bonus through a teacher referral program. I CAN SCHOOLS also has many opportunities for athletic coaching in the areas of basketball, track, cheerleading, and competitive hip-hop dance.

   Why I CAN
   I CAN SCHOOLS value its employees by providing meaningful and intentional administrative coaching dedicated to transforming teachers into master educators. I CAN SCHOOLS builds and maintains a professional and healthy adult learning community by entertaining several social events throughout the school year, hosting school retreats, and presents teacher of the year for each campus.

   To Apply
   Send resume and cover letter to Adrienne Lombardi, Director of Talent Recruitment at alombardi@icanschools.org

   Needless to say I didn’t find anything I am interested in and I feel worse 😦

   LikeLike

   Reply
5. Duane Swacker says:

   October 12, 2013 at 5:07 pm

   MOOOOOO!!!!

   LikeLike

   Reply
   • LG says:

     October 13, 2013 at 9:04 am

     Where’s the beef?

     LikeLike

     Reply
6. Robert Broderick says:

   October 12, 2013 at 5:15 pm

   Diane, This from the Philadelphia Inquirer:

   Martha Woodall, Inquirer Staff Writer Last updated: Saturday, October 12, 2013, 2:01 AM Posted: Friday, October 11, 2013, 8:26 PM Faced with concerns about student safety, finances, and other issues, an embattled Philadelphia cyber charter school will fold at the end of the month. Solomon Charter School’s board voted Friday to surrender the school’s operating agreement to the Pennsylvania Department of Education and close Oct. 30, in part because the school’s program for seventh- through 11th-grade students was housed in a building that shared space with a sex-offender clinic. “I wanted those kids out of the building,” said David Weathington, principal and acting chief executive officer of Solomon, on Vine Street just north of Center City. “It’s hard for the parents, but the kids’ safety comes first.” He said the closing would affect 350 students: 200 in the kindergarten-through-sixth-grade program at 1209 Vine, and 150 seventh- through 11th-graders at 1225 Vine. The shuttering also impacts about 20 teachers and staff. When Solomon began leasing that space for a learning center for older students last month, Weathington said, officials had no idea that a mental-health clinic that treats sex offenders was based there too. He said the charter learned about the clinic when a patient asked a Solomon staffer for directions to it. Although he did not know the clinic’s name, a records search showed that ATA – Assessment and Treatment Alternatives – a nonprofit mental health clinic that serves juvenile and adult sexual offenders, has offices at 1225 Vine. A staffer at the clinic who declined to give her name Friday said ATA had operated at that site for some time. Since Solomon opened in the fall of 2012, it has offered a “blended” approach that combines online instruction to students in their homes with sessions in classrooms. After learning of the clinic, Solomon stopped using the learning center at 1225 Vine and began offering only online instruction to its older students at home. “We closed 1225 Vine about a week and a half ago because of what we learned,” said Weathington. As a cyber charter school, Solomon provides all students with iMacs to use at home. “They were not missing any instructional time,” Weathington said. Solomon had been fighting the Education Department’s attempts to revoke its charter on the ground that it was acting more like a traditional charter than a cyber charter and was even serving lunch. The department alleged that Solomon was not meeting the state requirement that cyber charters offer a significant portion of instruction to students online. Although school districts authorize and oversee traditional charter schools, the Education Department is in charge of cyber schools because they offer online instruction to students across the state. Wendy Beetlestone, Solomon’s lawyer, said Friday that officials believed that the school could have weathered the state challenge to its blended-learning model. But she said that when health and safety issues emerged, the school decided to surrender the license because state law allows charter schools to be closed immediately for those reasons. Education Department spokesman Timothy Eller said that as a result of Solomon’s decision, the department would cancel a hearing on the school’s operations that had been scheduled for November. Weathington said Solomon also had been facing serious financial problems. The state said Solomon was only authorized to enroll students from sixth through 11th grades. As a result, the School District of Philadelphia had refused to pay tuition for the 200 younger students who had enrolled this fall. “How were we supposed to function?” Weathington asked. “We can’t.” District spokesman Fernando Gallard said the district had received invoices from Solomon for 343 students. He confirmed that the district had withheld payment for the students in kindergarten through fifth grades because of the state’s ruling. Even so, Gallard said, the district had paid Solomon $675,000 so far this fall for the older students. Weathington said Solomon would continue to provide instruction until Oct. 30 and was helping students and their families find new schools. Parents were notified they could pick up their children’s academic records at Solomon’s offices at 1209 Vine beginning Monday. They also will be required to return their computers.

   Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20131012_Embattled_cyber_charter_to_close.html#ciC3H0QdW8jk54ex.99

   Robert Broderick robpaulbrod@aol.com

   LikeLike

   Reply
7. George Buzzetti says:

   October 12, 2013 at 6:38 pm

   The first question is “Why did they ever approve a school of about 160 students. This is not economically viable. This is insanity in the first place. Charter schools are like individual school districts and the district is almost like the county to a normal district. You need a certain amount of students to operate in the normal world of normal funding or you will crash financially. Look at any small rural school district, say, in California. When they are real small they have to have extra funding as often the superintendent is also a teacher and the finacial person. They have to have a lot of extra funding/student just to open the doors as there are no advantages to size as an LAUSD does. This is comparing in L.A. County LAUSD with 640,000 and in 2011-12 $10,700/student and Eastern Sierra Unified with 430 students and $20,900/student. That seems high to me but it still costs much more to teach just a few in a K-12 district of this size far away from everything as anyone who has lived in the back country knows.

   This is a school in the largest city in the U.S. What are they approving a school for only 160 for? Are they totally crazy? Yes, they are.

   LikeLike

   Reply
   • teachingeconomisot says:

     October 13, 2013 at 9:33 am

     This brings up the interesting question about the optimal scale for a school. How does the cost per student change as the number of students changes? How does the scale of the school impact student learning?

     LikeLike

     Reply
   • Yvonne Siu-Runyan says:

     October 13, 2013 at 10:52 am

     Yes they are indeed nuts; they are crazy for MONEY and using kids…most despicable.

     LikeLike

     Reply
8. LG says:

   October 13, 2013 at 9:06 am

   Will any public funding they took from the public schools (if any) make it back to the public schools? I understand that in most states the deadline for charters to keep enrollment funds is October 15. Considering this one is closing, I hope the law sees to it that the public’s money gets refunded.

   LikeLike

   Reply
9. George Buzzetti says:

   October 13, 2013 at 4:08 pm

   This small school of 60 something students is financially not viable and should never have been approved in the first place. No school that small unless needed in a rural area is viable.

   LikeLike

   Reply