Hearing Officer Report – Olney Charter High School
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BOARD OF EDUCATION THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA In the Matter of: Charter Nonrenewal Proceeding Regarding Olney Charter High School HEARING OFFICER’S REPORT The Hearing Officer submits this report regarding the hearing conducted in this matter, together with the attached findings of fact, conclusions of law, proposed adjudication and certification of the record. Rudolph Garcia, Esquire HEARING OFFICER 235 Lloyd Lane Wynnewood, PA 19096 www.RudolphGarcia.com Direct: 610-986-1061 [email protected] Date: September 19, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS HEARING OFFICER’S REPORT I. PROCEDURAL POSTURE .....................................................................................................1 II. GROUNDS FOR NONRENEWAL OF OLNEY’S CHARTER .............................................5 A. Material Violations of Charter Standards and Conditions ................................................7 1. Olney failed to meet charter conditions for Renaissance Schools. ............................8 2. Olney has not achieved the performance expected of Renaissance Schools. ....................................................................................................................10 3. Olney failed to meet charter requirements for Statements of Financial Interest. .....................................................................................................13 4. Olney failed to meet charter requirements for Highly Qualified Teachers. ..................................................................................................................15 5. Olney failed to meet charter requirements for certification of special education staff. .........................................................................................................15 6. Olney violated its own Bylaws. ................................................................................16 B. Failure to Meet Student Performance Requirements .......................................................17 1. Olney’s Keystone Exam results have not met the Chapter 4 and New Hope standards. ........................................................................................................18 2. Olney’s SPP and Future Ready Index data falls below the standards set by the State’s accountability systems. ................................................................21 C. Failure to Meet Generally Accepted Standards of Fiscal Management and Audit Requirements ..................................................................................................23 1. Olney has had poor fiscal management. ...................................................................24 2. Olney has failed to complete timely financial audits. ..............................................28 3. Olney’s Board provided insufficient oversight of ASPIRA’s fiscal management. ............................................................................................................30 4. Olney guaranteed financing for ASPIRA and other ASPIRA- managed schools. .....................................................................................................31 5. Olney shifted funds to ASPIRA and other ASPIRA-managed schools. .....................................................................................................................33 6. Olney paid exorbitant rent to ACE/Dougherty. .......................................................34 D. Violation of Applicable Laws .........................................................................................36 1. Olney used charter school funds for non-charter school purposes. ..........................36 2. Olney’s Board took actions that raised conflicts of interest, failed to address those conflicts through an open and public process, and - i - breached their fiduciary duties. ................................................................................38 3. Olney violated the Sunshine Act. .............................................................................42 4. Olney violated Highly Qualified Teacher requirements. .........................................45 5. Olney violated certification requirements. ...............................................................45 6. Olney violated requirements regarding student enrollment materials. .....................46 7. Olney violated student discipline requirements. ......................................................47 8. Olney violated requirements for English language learners. ...................................49 III. OTHER ASSERTED DEFENSES .........................................................................................50 A. Student Demographics .....................................................................................................50 B. Special Admission Schools. ............................................................................................56 C. Alleged Racial Inequities ................................................................................................57 D. School Advisory Council ................................................................................................59 E. Comparison to Hostos and Pantoja. .................................................................................61 F. Comparison to Mastery Charter Schools .........................................................................61 G. Comparison to Richard Allen Charter School. ................................................................63 H. Hearing Process Issues ....................................................................................................64 1. The Charter’s Notice Provision ................................................................................64 2. Evidence Regarding the CSO’s Analysis .................................................................65 3. Previously Unavailable Evidence .............................................................................65 4. Hearsay .....................................................................................................................67 5. Expert Sources and Reports .....................................................................................68 a. Inadmissible evidence does not become admissible merely because an expert relies upon it. .......................................................................68 b. An expert report is inadmissible hearsay. .........................................................70 6. Post Hearing Attacks on the Validity of this Proceeding .........................................71 a. Transition from SRC to BOE ............................................................................71 b. Request for Recusal ..........................................................................................72 c. Previous Non-Renewal Hearings ......................................................................73 d. Unjustified Continuance Requests ....................................................................74 e. Proposed Intervention by ASPIRA ...................................................................76 f. Last Minute Requests for Documents ...............................................................77 g. Timely Completion of the Hearings ..................................................................78 h. Reaction to a Comparison of Renewal Outcomes .............................................79 - ii - i. Timing of Objections to Exhibits ......................................................................80 j. Exhibits Regarding Other Charter Schools .......................................................80 k. Conclusion ........................................................................................................82 7. Motions to Reopen the Hearing ...............................................................................84 a. Initial Motions ...................................................................................................84 b. Motions for Reconsideration .............................................................................86 IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS ..........................................................................................................89 V. RECOMMENDATION ..........................................................................................................91 ATTACHMENTS TO REPORT A. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law ........................................................................... A-1 Findings of Fact ............................................................................................................ A-1 General Background .............................................................................................. A-1 Procedural Posture ................................................................................................. A-2 Material Violations of Charter Standards and Conditions .................................. A-15 Background Regarding Renaissance Charter Schools ................................. A-15 Olney’s Charter ............................................................................................ A-26 CSO Review of Charter Schools’ Operations .............................................. A-31 Statements of Financial Interest ................................................................... A-34 Highly Qualified Teachers ........................................................................... A-34 Certification Requirements .........................................................................