October 13, 2016
Monroeville – October 13, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on the role of charter schools in public education.
“I hope today’s hearing gives us a better sense of how the charter school system works; how it complements — or detracts from traditional public schools; and ways we can make these schools more efficient, transparent and accountable,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee.
Brewster, who is introducing charter school reform legislation, added, “Charter schools must be accountable to the taxpayer and demonstrate that they are fiscally sound and properly supported by the community.
“I asked that this hearing be held in Monroeville to give our region’s school officials, as well as representatives from the charter school community, the opportunity to offer their views on this important issue.”
Boscola said she was pleased with the diverse make-up of the panel, which included state officials, public school superintendents, charter school administrators and others.
Calling Pennsylvania’s charter school law the “worst in the nation,” State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued a 95-page audit last month that revealed numerous examples of financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest and poor oversight. DePasquale testified at today’s hearing.
Many of the critical findings recommendations in DePasquale’s 2014 charter school report were incorporated into Brewster’s legislation. The bill would require greater school board and Department of Education oversight, toughen the fiscal viability requirements for charter school applicants, ban charter board members from having a financial interest in leasing arrangements, step up teacher certification, and require approval from all of the school districts where a charter school draws 25 or more students from. The Brewster legislation would also place a moratorium on new cyber-charter schools.
According to the state Department of Education, Pennsylvania has 162 “bricks and mortar” charter schools (20 in Allegheny County), and 14 cyber charter schools.
Claiming that charter schools disproportionately harm poorer school districts, Mckeesport Area School District Superintendent Dr. Rula Skezas called charter schools the top financial problem for public schools.
“The two most obvious effects that charter schools have had on our school districts are that they have significantly drained the resources available to those students who remain in our schools; and created considerable increased costs for our taxpayers,” Skezas said.
Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Alan Johnson added that his school district will spend nearly $15 million of its $90 million budget on charter school tuition.
Ron Sofo, who serves as CEO of the City Charter High School in Pittsburgh, countered that his school provides a quality education “at $6,000 to $8,000 less per pupil than our authorizing school district.” He argued that charters and public school districts should engage in more collaboration and less competition.
Joining Brewster and Boscola at the hearing were Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), and Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria).
The following testified at the hearing:
- Matthew Stem, deputy secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education;
- Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale;
- Dr. Rula Skezas, superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District;
- Nathan Benefield, vice-president of policy, Commonwealth Foundation;
- Anthony Pirrello, vice-president, PA Coalition of Public Charter Schools Board, & CEO, Montessori Regional Charter School, Erie;
- Ron Sofo, CEO, City Charter High School, Pittsburgh; and
- Richard Livingston, president of the Clairton City School Board
- Jeremy Resnick, Keystone Alliance for Public Charter Schools, executive director, Propel Schools, Pittsburgh
- Dolores McCracken, vice president, PSEA
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Contact: Charles Tocci
Phone: 717-787-5166
Email: ctocci@pasenate.com
April 21, 2016
Harrisburg – April 21, 2016 – Senate Democrats representing large and small cities across Pennsylvania stepped forward today to propose an aggressive crime prevention plan that would provide $3.2 million in grants for local police departments.
The Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program would enable local officials from cities of all sizes to apply for grants covering one-time expenses for equipment, training, new public safety initiatives and police overtime.
The Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant initiative is being offered by Sens. John Wozniak (D-Cambria/Bedford/Clearfield), John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia), Sean Wiley (D-Erie), Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry), and Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“Police departments struggle to find resources for equipment, training, safety initiatives and overtime,” Wozniak said. “This grant program would be a very useful way to direct much-needed funds for specific crime prevention initiatives.”
In Wozniak’s district, Johnstown would be eligible to apply for grant funding. Wozniak, who is active in local government issues, proposed the development of the Third Class City Caucus as a way to push measures helpful to smaller cities, including funding for public safety.
“Crime fighting in urban areas – regardless of the size of the city – poses unique problems that have to be addressed,” Sabatina said. “This program provides a conduit for law enforcement to access funds to pay for necessary law enforcement tools.”
Sabatina’s 5th Senatorial District is located in Northeast Philadelphia. A former assistant district attorney, he has been a leader on police and law enforcement issues since he joined the General Assembly.
Safe Street Grants would be based on a city’s population. First and second-class cities (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively) could receive up to $150,000. Second-class A and third-class cities with populations between 40,000 and 120,000 (Erie, Harrisburg, etc.) are eligible for $100,000 grants.
Third-class cities with a population ranging from 16,000 to 40,000 residents (Johnstown, McKeesport, for example) could seek $75,000 under the program. Cities with populations from 10,000 to 15,999, and those with less than 10,000 citizens would be eligible for grants of $50,000 or $25,000, respectively.
“Cities in Pennsylvania face stiff fiscal challenges and need financial help in many areas,” Wiley said. “Earmarking grant dollars for specific purposes will help police combat crime, improve public safety and save lives.”
Wiley has been heavily involved in assisting Erie area police departments. He helped access funding for a K-9 unit based at Mercyhurst University that is trained in bomb detection. The unit is available to the Erie Bureau of Police as well as other local departments. Under the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program, Erie would be eligible for a $100,000 grant.
The program would be administered through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
“Public safety is a top priority of local government,” Teplitz said. “The key aspect of the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program is that it is tailored to help law enforcement from cities of all sizes.”
Teplitz represents Harrisburg, which would be eligible for $100,000 in grant funding under the program. He helped develop a bipartisan municipal debt reform package (Senate Bills 340-344) to enhance state oversight of municipal financial deals and prevent fiscal catastrophes that have embroiled Harrisburg and other municipalities.
As Democratic chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee and a leader on addressing fiscal issues associated with third-class cities, Teplitz believes that a renewed focus on providing law enforcement with the resources and tools to combat crime will pay dividends for generations to come.
Brewster, who represents a number of eligible cities (McKeesport, Duquesne, Clairton, New Kensington, Arnold and Lower Burrell), said the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program is an excellent approach that would fill a local need.
“Small cites are cash-strapped and often find it difficult to pay expenses,” Brewster said. “This grant program offers smaller urban areas which do not have resources readily available a way to fund law enforcement and protect citizens.”
Brewster served as the mayor of McKeesport and was a member of council, including service as council president. He has been a strong proponent of using new technology to fight crime, including the use of body cameras for police officers.
According to the bill’s sponsors, there are 57 cities that could access grant funding. The grant funding could not be used to hire new officers or cover personnel or benefit costs. Overtime cost is an eligible expense.
Municipalities who use Pennsylvania State Troopers for local patrol and law enforcement would be ineligible.
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