It’s been an ongoing battle over the financial situation of the York City School District. On Monday, attorneys representing parents, school staff and members of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association asked a York County judge to include them in the process of deciding whether the state should take over.
In all, three petitions have been filed on behalf of district employees, parents and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
An attorney representing 550 school district employees told the judge if a receiver is appointed and the district turns all charter, many of the employee will lose their jobs. The attorney also argued that appointing a receiver will not help the financial situation of the district.
A receivership would give Chief Recovery Officer David Meckley control of almost all of the decision-making for the district. Meckley has been appointed by the state and has talked of plans to convert the entire district into charter schools.
Niles Benn, an attorney for 16 parents argued that a receiver, and resulting charter school plan, would take away parents and students right to attend a public school.
"There is nothing in the charter plan proposed or that he has presented that provides for an alternative education, other than Charter schools," said Benn. He represents four sets of parents who have special needs children.
"Under the current plan as I reviewed it, it appears as though they are proposing two special ed teachers, currently in the York City School District they have 14 special ed teachers, because that's a dramatic difference," said Benn.
The other petition came from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
Clyde Veder, an attorney representing the state opposed all three petitions. He said federal law protects all children, including those with disabilities.
Veder said the financial recovery plan already has been reviewed and approved, and needs to be followed. "We believe the school board has not complied with the act, that is, they are not satisfying the plan of recovery that they specifically approved and agreed to comply with," said Veder.
Outside the courthouse students held signs and chanted in protest of the York City School District becoming all charter schools.
On Thursday Judge Linebaugh will hear arguments on the York City School District's request to temporarily halt a state appointed receivership. At this hearing Linebaugh is expected to make a decision on the three petitions at this time.
