Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq today issued the following statement following the York County Court of Common Pleas ruling on the Department of Education’s petition to place York City School District into receivership and appoint Dave Meckley as receiver:
“The department has been focused on what is in the best interest of the students of York City School District, and the court’s ruling to place York City School District into receivership and appoint Dave Meckley as receiver will begin the process of returning a high-quality education to the students and community of York City.
“Mr. Meckley can now implement the much-needed financial recovery plan that will improve the district’s educational programs, increase student achievement and restore financial stability to the district.”
State Rep. Kevin Schreiber released the following statement on the York County Court’s decision to place the York City School District in receivership at the request of the Corbett administration’s department of education:
“Today, the York County Court declared the York City School District in receivership, a move that could lead to the privatization of the entire School District to a for-profit charter school, an action that has never before been done in Pennsylvania.
“The ruling from the judge notes that the court does not have the authority to consider what the Receiver will do, when appointed. Further, the School Code does not permit the court to inquire whether the recovery plan is good, bad or is in the best interest of York City Schools, the students, or the citizens. The court can only weigh in on the financial stability of the district and whether the state’s petition is arbitrary or capricious.
“If then this is solely about the financial stability of our city schools, then I would absolutely argue that the district’s financial stability was disrupted by Governor Corbett and the Pa. Department of Education. The governor’s policies disproportionately and negatively impacted York City Schools with the elimination of the state reimbursement to districts for charter schools, the moratorium on construction reimbursements promised to districts, and countless other decisions that put our students and taxpayers at a disadvantage.
“York City School District was forced into recovery by Governor Tom Corbett and the Pa. Department of Education and now that has led to receivership.
“Simply put, one could easily posit that Governor Corbett’s game plan has been to starve public education to justify privatization and today that plan has been implemented successfully.
“I am glad to see that the school district has filed an appeal to this decision and I am hopeful further legal hearings and public scrutiny will reveal the facts. We must make sure we put our students and our taxpaying homeowners and business owners first.”
