DVHS in upheaval

**billy ross** · 07-23-2012, 07:09 AM

Education firm linked to Fattah's son lays off all its teachers, administrators

"Without warning, Delaware Valley High School - a for-profit education firm whose records were recently subpoenaed by a federal grand jury - has laid off all 50 teaching and administrative employees at the four alternative schools it operates in the region."

It seems as if they are playing some kind of game with this, but how can you have quality, dedicated employees when you treat your employees like this?

"Spokesman Fernando Gallard said the district was still working on the contract extensions for alternative-education providers that the School Reform Commission approved in June.

Gallard said the district would take the reported layoffs at Delaware Valley into consideration."

This is just no way to run schools.

**PASnow** · 07-23-2012, 08:44 AM

The school is probably just being shut down. I'd guess the Shulick guy is alot more worried about his ties to Fattah and payments to him for the deal. With the feds involved & all, he should be concerned, he's toast. Mark Shermans screwed too, the lease on this thing was probably his bread & butter. Which is why he could neglect Ridge Ave & booted The Pour House guys & Franco shortly thereafter.

**friendlynerd** · 07-23-2012, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by PASnow

The school is probably just being shut down.

I wouldn't shed a tear. East Falls can do better.

**Naveen** · 07-23-2012, 09:53 AM

Is this the reform(?) school on Ridge? The place with the sign "Manners Taught Here"?

**Malloy** · 07-23-2012, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Naveen

Is this the reform(?) school on Ridge? The place with the sign "Manners Taught Here"?

Yep!

**Hypebeast** · 07-23-2012, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Naveen

The place with the sign "Manners Taught Here"?

ironic, right?

**Speedbump** · 07-24-2012, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by billy ross

Education firm linked to Fattah's son lays off all its teachers, administrators

"Without warning, Delaware Valley High School - a for-profit education firm whose records were recently subpoenaed by a federal grand jury - has laid off all 50 teaching and administrative employees at the four alternative schools it operates in the region."

It seems as if they are playing some kind of game with this, but how can you have quality, dedicated employees when you treat your employees like this?

"Spokesman Fernando Gallard said the district was still working on the contract extensions for alternative-education providers that the School Reform Commission approved in June.

Gallard said the district would take the reported layoffs at Delaware Valley into consideration."

This is just no way to run schools.

You're darn skippy correct that this is certainly not the way to run a school. But then again, this was hardly a school. Who or what in the SRC and district was in charge of reviewing the school's proposal and documented curriculum when they were approved? What about our governmental leadership who proudly paraded them in front of and welcomed them into the community when it became known that they were going to occupy the structures on Ridge Avenue?

I learned from colleagues and a former student more than a year ago that they were essentially running a baby sitting operation. This was yet another example of well connected folks placing themselves in front of a stream of diverted revenue and erect a house of cards and sell it to the city, the SRC and this community as an educational establishment well positioned and correctly structured to serve troubled youth.

This is the kind of tainted enterprise that causes so many folks to go and stay sour on Philadelphia. My disgust grows daily as a taxpayer, educator and resident of this city and community with shell games such as this.

US congressman, Chock Full of It should parade himself in front of a community council meeting and offer some disclosure as to "what went wrong"

**annie** · 07-24-2012, 11:31 AM

I hope no one missed the part at the end where DVHS contract with the district showed teachers receiving salaries of $45,000 but the teachers were apparently paid $36,000 if they waived their benefits or $31,000 if they didn't. Where, oh where, did the difference go?

**billy ross** · 07-24-2012, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by annie

I hope no one missed the part at the end where DVHS contract with the district showed teachers receiving salaries of $45,000 but the teachers were apparently paid $36,000 if they waived their benefits or $31,000 if they didn't. Where, oh where, did the difference go?

The US Attorney General and the FBI are all over this. The truth will out.

Speedbump - better a charade school than to leave delinquents to ruin real schools. Take all of the rotten apples and put them with their own kind, while dangling the carrot of a get out of jail free card for the deserving.

**raider.adam** · 07-24-2012, 03:25 PM

DBETA was always a superior product.

**Speedbump** · 07-24-2012, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

The US Attorney General and the FBI are all over this. The truth will out.

Speedbump - better a charade school than to leave delinquents to ruin real schools. Take all of the rotten apples and put them with their own kind, while dangling the carrot of a get out of jail free card for the deserving.

Bill, I agree completely with you that juvenile delinquents and offenders need to be separated from the regular student body and there are sound and honest ways and institutions for that. However, I strongly disagree with the notion of packing them off to charade joints like DVHS that are robbing the system of much needed funds. the school district budget is divided up among the district controlled and charter schools. DVHS like other contract and charter schools receives money allocated on the student numbers enrolled in their institutions. they get the money in full up front at the beginning of the school year. they also have the option to dismiss students at any time during the school year and send them back to their regular neighborhood school. When that happens they do not send a prorated amount of money with the student to the neighborhood school that now has to provide service to that kid. So, they keep the annual allotment for each student whether or not each student stays for the entire school year. A certain music mogul in South Philly became hip to this gravy boat and was well connected enough to not only open a charter school but open it in a brand new building built by the school district as a way to turn around it's failing record.

This DVHS was sham from the beginning. It is a disgrace because it is a fraudulent institution. It is a disgrace because this community was told that it was a good thing and it would be a positive assets to our "riverfront". it is a disgrace because it is siphoning funds from a still diminishing school budget.

**annie** · 07-24-2012, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

Speedbump - better a charade school than to leave delinquents to ruin real schools. Take all of the rotten apples and put them with their own kind, while dangling the carrot of a get out of jail free card for the deserving.

How about a third option where students receive the education and services the public is paying for?

**the mule** · 07-25-2012, 10:46 AM

Now Onion Flats needs to get moving on the Rivage development, create some momentum for that stretch of Ridge, and maybe there will be some motivation for better use of the DVHS site.

**The Count** · 07-25-2012, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by friendlynerd

I wouldn't shed a tear. East Falls can do better.

"If you lie down with dogs..."

The cast of characters in the DVHS debacle is a who's who of Philadelphia liars and cheats, profiteers and bottom-feeders, (Archie, Shulick, Fattah, Sherman, Karloutsos). There is only one way something involving those 5 people can end.

**friendlynerd** · 07-25-2012, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by the mule

Now Onion Flats needs to get moving on the Rivage development, create some momentum for that stretch of Ridge, and maybe there will be some motivation for better use of the DVHS site.

That was my thought/hope as well.

**Naveen** · 07-25-2012, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by the mule

Now Onion Flats needs to get moving on the Rivage development, create some momentum for that stretch of Ridge, and maybe there will be some motivation for better use of the DVHS site.

I don't think OF is supposed to be settling until the end of the year and won't be breaking ground until early 2013. That is, if the manage to stick to the existing schedule. There are some "ifs" attached to all of that.

**Mike D** · 07-25-2012, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by The Count

"If you lie down with dogs..."

The cast of characters in the DVHS debacle is a who's who of Philadelphia liars and cheats, profiteers and bottom-feeders, (Archie, Shulick, Fattah, Sherman, Karloutsos). There is only one way something involving those 5 people can end.

Lets not forget Jones either. He did after all end up supporting DVHS going in there. Think of him what you will on the whole but he did not listen to his constituents.

**FarFromHome** · 08-07-2012, 05:33 PM

Wolves in sheep's clothing. Looking for a system that will provide them with government money to provide a service that they never intend to provide.
This is why we need a complete political revolution in this country. They are all corrupt.
Not that this should be a political debate, because I can't stand either side anymore.
But hooray for more public services. Oh, it didn't work out the way you had hoped? Oh well, nothing ever does.
Here's an idea, if you desire to start a school for deviants, use your own money.
Because there isn't enough oversight by the government to protect the "People's" money from people out to beat the system.
And the punishments aren't severe enough for those who do.