Ad Prima Charter school needs reform now!!!!

We, the parents and teachers, from Ad Prima Charter School in Philadelphia, PA, believe that the change begins with the immediate resignation from CEO Niya Blackwell.

Since the indictment of the founder Dr. Dorothy June Brown, Ad Prima Charter School has been led by a flurry of bad leadership, leading our children down a dark path of miseducation.

For the past couple of years, teachers have been leaving at an alarming rate, the resources have diminished, and teachers are leading classrooms without the proper certification.  Our teachers have had to use their own money to purchase text books, purchase supplies, and purchase food for their classrooms.

Under the leadership of Ms. Blackwell, we have multiple Title 1 violations, multiple operational problems, no financial transparency and health and safety concerns for students within the walls of the school. Ad Prima Charter School is in direct violation of Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) bi-laws and resolution.

Ms. Blackwell, the granddaughter of Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, came to Ad Prima after she resigned from another Philadelphia charter school because of financial conflicts. Ms. Blackwell, then a member of the Board of Trustees, held a trustee position while Councilwoman Blackwell’s Communications Director Wydiah Floyd was Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Councilwoman Blackwell's sister was also the Principal of Ad Prima's 63rd Street campus.

Councilwoman Blackwell was a major supporter of Dr. Brown prior to her indictment. However, as most politicians did, she backed away from her longtime friend. Still, the legacy of Black and Brown continued with the connection to Ad Prima.

We need to fully disconnect from Dr. June Brown and the Blackwell name.

We, the parents and teachers, of Ad Prima Charter School are fighting for textbooks for our children. We are fighting for technology in the classrooms. We are fighting for foreign language. We are fighting for the respect of the administration.

Ultimately, the laws for charter schools need to change and thankfully the PA House and Senate have finally begun the legislative process that is long overdue. However, the proposed House Bill 97 is inadequate! Legislators, please consider the recommendations of PASA. http://www.pasa-net.org//Files/InformationReports/2017/CharterSchoolReform2017.pdf

Our children need to be educated by educators, not civil rights attorneys or politicians. They need qualified teachers that are going to work hard for them.

We demand the resignation of the CEO. We demand a dismantling of the current Board of Trustees. Allow a search committee comprised of parents and teachers to conduct a proper search for members that will have our children’s best intentions.