The Chester-Upland School District needs your help. Currently a Delaware County judge (Barry Dozor) has ruled in favor of a private for-profit, charter school to submit proposals overseeing the educational and operational duties of all K-8 schools within the Chester Upland School District.  CSMI, a private, for-profit, company with a checkered past, has submitted to the Delaware County courts to manage and operate all schools that are K-8 within CUSD, essentially taking over 85% of the district.  CSMI currently operates the Chester Community Charter School, exploiting the resources of the district and inflating the costs to educate children at an abnormally high rate.  

If they are successful in their proposal, CSMI would bilk an alarmingly large amount of taxpayer funds from the City and pocket those earnings for their own personal gain.  A national audit of charter school management companies by the U.S. Department of Education has spotlighted Chester Community Charter School, auditors say, the CEO wrote checks to himself totaling $11 million without board approval.  (“Federal audit spotlights charter school financial practices”, The Philadelphia Inquirer 10/04/2016).    

The business practices of CSMI have shown to be deceptive and misleading at best.  In 2012 one of their testing coordinators for the Chester Community Charter School was investigated for “systemic violations of the security of the PSSA exams”.  This was due to student test scores miraculously improving when the schools charter renewal was up for bid by the state.  For a school to not make Adequate Yearly Progress, like a charter, means they lose their charter license and would essentially close: a huge financial loss for the pockets of the managing company overseeing the charter.  Due to CSMI being a private entity, the financial records are not able to be viewed or shared with the tax-paying public.  Their goal, to instruct for the cheapest amount spent while extracting as much profit from the district as possible.  Essentially putting a price tag on your child.

Unlike CUSD, Chester Community Charter’s test scores are not improving.  The school’s ranking is one of the lowest in the state, 1503 out of 1536.  The company that manages CCCS would rather take profits for their personal benefit rather than invest them back into the school and community.  Profits that could be used to make building upgrades, offer better meal options and decrease the size of crowded classes by employing additional teachers.  Instead CSMI will reward their board of directors with bonuses for their cost-cutting efforts.  

Though CUSD has its financial difficulties, and may lack similar resources other districts have, CUSD being “sold” essentially by the school board and receiver is not the answer.  CUSD needs the community to show its support, voice your disapproval of this, and make sure the board and receiver know you won’t let this happen while sitting idly by. 

The district is staffed by a wealth of caring and dedicated men and women who are and have been working feverishly in making sure the children of Chester get a chance at an equal and proper education.  In the fall of 2015, CUSD needed help balancing their finances which resulted in the teachers and staff unifying to give up being paid until the budget could be worked out successfully. Teachers and staff unanimously agreed they would work with the district administrators rather than let the kids suffer a late start. One strong example of the love and dedication the teachers in CUSD have for the students and families they serve.  Your voice matters!  By signing this petition you are supporting the community of Chester Upland School District, saying we want our schools to stay within the city and not the hands of a greedy for profit charter that only cares about how much money they can extort from the city of Chester.