Judge Orders Bailout of Union-Dominated School District
by Education Action GroupThese days a lot of school budgets are being held together by the accounting equivalents of bailing wire and duct tape. But one Pennsylvania school district is so broke that it needs the state to provide the wire and the tape.
The Chester Upland School District began this week with only $100,000 in its savings account, and had no way of meeting its $1 million payroll – that is, until a judge ordered the state to give the district a $3.2 million advance in its allowance, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The money will allow the teachers to be paid and the lights to remain on, at least for a few more weeks. The district is on track to be $20 million in debt by the end of the school year.
“Anxious parents are looking at other options for their children, such as sending them to private schools or having them live with relatives and go to other public schools,” the Daily Journal reported two days before the bailout was announced.
What’s causing Chester Upland’s financial meltdown?
According to school officials, the state has been illegally giving some of the district’s money to charter schools. State officials say the law requires it to fund the schools where students actually attend, and many choose to attend charter schools. A judge is expected to settle the dispute next month.
While the district might win its case in court, it seems destined to lose in the court of public opinion.
Since 2006, Chester Upland’s enrollment has dropped by almost 1,000 students. During that same time, the district has increased its workforce by 145 employees, and its budget by $28 million, reports the PhillyBurbs.com.
Members of the local teachers union have pledged to keep working “as long as they are individually able … even if they are not paid.”
While that makes for a nice press release, it appears that none the district’s three school employee unions have agreed to open their contracts and offer any concessions to help the district survive.
Just another financial crisis, courtesy of Big Labor.
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58 Comments
A union exists for the sake of the union.
Taxation without representation ?
This another reason the money should follow the child into homeschooling. Where competition will solve the problems.
This is EXACTLY what Newt's talking about when it comes to activist judges.
I totally agree. Homeschooled children receive the best education possible….from the best teachers…and score higher on mandated exams and SATs than public school children. And homeschool "teachers" are doing the job of the union teachers for ZERO $. At the least parents should be compensated for the materials they purchase to provide such a good education.
"F" them…let the entire school system die and rot on the vine. Take the unions with them.
Let the discrict reboot into a much more stable, better financed and affordable school district with true choice for the parents.
hehehehehehehehe… Blame what works for the demise of what doesn't! Typical big labor BS.
Amen to that! Too few Executives and Legislatures are willing to stand up to Judges.
Not all home schooled Kids. Had an acquaintance who kept hers home for a year and could not be bothered to teach them anything else other than housework. Had to put them back, a grade back.
That said, I wish I had the time and the wife's OK to home school our remaining 2.
Drag that Judge before the Legislature and make him defend his decision, constitutionally.
If he cannot, impeach and remove him from office.
If home schoolers got the money they could combine their resources and hire good teachers if they wanted.
Government should never be the first choice to solving a problem.
First our state capital, Harrisburg, goes bankrupt now this. PA's big city liberals are always embarrassing the rest of the state.
Let's take the money from the Judge's future salary!!! And put a lien on any property owned by the judge. If he wants socialism, let him LIVE IT!!!
Homeschoolers getting money? Well wait, why pay the property tax only to get it back….
Folks, the root of our problems, from schools to the housing bubble come back to that – the communist idea that is PROPERTY TAX.
On that point, I think Newt is 100% right on the money.
What? You lose 1000 students and ADD 145 employees? Are all of you on the school board stupid?
Harrisburg has announced that they have a new treasurer. He's 23 years old, has an associates degree from the local community college and hopes to complete a bachelors degree in economics and finance in 2013. The treasurer's position is a part-time engagement with compensation of $20,000/year. While he has never been employed in finance, accounting or business, he and his boyfriend are very ambitious and plan to work very hard to resolve the bankrupt city's financial debacle. No mention as to whether they have a cat. Or a fern.
I want to start my own school dist., hire myself as administrator for 250k a year, hire the wife as a teacher for 100k a year. My dog will work security for 65k a year and when in a few weeks we go BK, get a million dollar bailout. My son will get a better education, that is for sure.
Remember, it is all about the children.
Wait, I need 5 million more for a new school. I am willing to wait till next year for that, this district is financially responsible.
Short answer. YES
Time to hold the superintendent accountable. Tell him/her that they have to live within their budget. They also need automatic cuts to the super/administration whenever the district goes into the red. That would get the super's attention.
Big Labor? More like Pig Labor…..
The state legislature should take the $3.2 mil from the judiciary's budget.
Maybe they're former students of that school, and they're showing the quality of their education? You know, the new 'fuzzy math'.
Ah the joys of a practical education. We can only hope that this will be a great learning experience for them.
that is a great idea, then you can make your own tax levy, and force everyone in your "district" to fund a life style only they can dream of. let me know if you are successful?
our schools are broke here, so what did they resolve to do? they are starting a new math program, and for only a million dollars, they will start this program. but they do not mention firing of the math teachers who are not doing their jobs currently.
So I guess the judges are now state treasurers as well.
It has gone over well with our new union. The property owners arebeing a bit harder to deal with. I am thinking a “special assessment”is in order. Honestly, we are banking on the bailout.
Watch "The Cartel" Excellent documentary. It breaks down the cost per class room and shows why we spend so much on education without results. The fact is the unions don't represent the students or the teachers. They are about protecting administrative costs. It many cases the teacher of a class room makes $55 plus benefits. But the classroom may take $350k or more to run because of administrative costs. Good teachers could be actually be paid more (based on merit). We know the unions don't represent students, that's a given. But they actually don't represent good teachers either. The teachers' unions protect the administrative overhead through school boards they push to elect.
No, probably not stupid, maybe very bright. But corrupt. How many of those "new" employees actually do a productive job and aren't politcally "connected?" That's the more important question.
No, probably not stupid, maybe very bright. But corrupt. How many of those "new" employees actually do a productive job and aren't politcally "connected?" That's the more important question.
That was true 40 years ago when I lived there. Got a better education there though (pre unions) than any of today's kids.
The rest of PA just doesn't get it. They have to pay their "fair share" to Philadelphia's unions. And since they are an Obama state, I'm sure they would agree.
(sarcasm)
A judge took over and bankrupted the Cleveland school system many years ago. So nice to order things and not have to worry about the funding.
"Since 2006, Chester Upland’s enrollment has dropped by almost 1,000 students. During that same time, the district has increased its workforce by 145 employees, and its budget by $28 million, reports the PhillyBurbs.com."
That's 145 bureaucrats and cronies and NOT teachers. Remember PA, you gotta pay for the cronies!
I'm beggining to see a lot of positive things coming from the liberals and the obama presidency and that is that we get to say that liberalism was given a full opportunity to prove it's value and it failed miserably,and we unknowingly, or at least by deceit and media fawning were given a sampling of socialism which also failed miserably. Please hire someone who loves America and it's people next time because the communists are at the door.
Dam does Chester Upland School District really need so many staff members? http://www.chesteruplandsd.org/modules/groups/hom...
Long Answer: They're Democrats
That's exactly what happens to managers in the real world. Can you imagine being an executive over a private company where production was down, quality was tanking, your facilities were falling apart AND you were $20 million dollars over budget?! You'd be fired in a heartbeat!!
My analysis skills are weak. Can anyone figure out why Chester Upland School District only has $100,000 in its savings account? BUDGET SUMMARY INFORMATION REPORT pg.10 http://www.chesteruplandsd.org/modules/groups/hom...
The main source of Revenue (Real Estate Taxes) fall a little short about 87% short…The rest of the state needs to pay more on their real estate taxes and all will be fine…..
Time for this judge to be excused and possibly doing some jail time.
This point we agree,
Property says we own nothing.
And the government take it away for failure to pay your rent on your property
They never talk about the people that had their property stolen by government
Where ever unions go, unemployment inevitably follows….
You mistake Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Chester with the rest of the State. These are the cities under D suffering for the last 50 years. The balance of PA is more conservative and resents our tax dollar supporting these failed cities. We are NOT an Obama State, that is why we continue to PUSH for VOTER ID and the Communist D's are squealing like stuck pigs. They won't be able to vote more than once and we will be a normal state again. Support us in this effort and maybe we can end this mess.
Take money from one broke government agency and give is to another.
This is the union way –
Bankrupt the town and let this guys start over.
At least the new people will have a chance – or and the kid might be better off
Meanwhile in Wisconsin, governor Walker's voter approved reforms have saved thousand's of teacher's jobs from the chopping block. Oh, and the the state's budget gap has been closed among many other positive economic developments. But the greedy, corrupt unions, who are often directly at odds with the rest of the people, are lusting after their pound of flesh. When the nation goes bankrupt, we'll know who to blame and where to find them!
Granny, Where I hail from conservatives have a lock. Supply me with a link and I'll do my part. Keep up the good fight.
"They never talk about the people that had their property stolen by government"
That would be everybody who pays income tax.
Income tax is slavery
You see that here in Houston where parents pool together and the one that knows math teaches math, the one that knows computers, etc.
Honestly now why would anyone be surprised by this.
Anything to do with government, union thugs, corrupt judges, (fill in the blank) this is exactly what you get.
The school system will implode and collapse, of that there is no doubt.
"According to school officials, the state has been illegally giving some of the district’s money to charter schools." Ask, "Why are the Charter Schools Successful?" Has PA finally realized that dumping money into a lost cause simply a, "Waste of Money?"
CTimbo, I think ‘was’ an Obama state would be more correct. It’s has your big city liberals, red neck conservatives like myself and good old union supporting blue dog conservative Democrats. In 2010 the Republicans won the governorship, both houses and a key US Senate race. I think it’s highly likely Pennsylvania will pick the next President. It will come down to the conservative Democrats. Many of them feel their party has abandoned them in favor of special interests. They like their guns and bibles the same as Republicans and don’t care much for environmentalists, gay rights and dare I say it minorities. It should be a very interesting campaign.
Let the judge attempt to enforce his ruling. Should be an interesting exercise in judicial futility.
They're probably all former teachers and union members
Sooner or later they'll run out of other peoples' money.
The anxious parents need to occupy the school board meetings until they get their school taxes refunded.
This judge needs to be placed in the unemployment lines so he can enjoy the pain like the rest of the United States and what the Barack Obama agenda, socialism, is doing to the United States.
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