At a special meeting of the board this morning, the decision to suspend operations at Pace Career Central Community School in Dayton was unanimous. The school, which was slated to open for classes on Monday, will have its doors closed and funding ceased. The opportunity exists for the school to provide a corrective action plan to the board, which must be submitted within five business days. If a corrective action plan is submitted, the board has three options: 1) vote to re-open the school; 2) vote to suspend operations indefinitely; 3) vote to close the school permanently.
The students who attend Pace, which bills itself as a "drop-out recovery" institution (although it has not been given this status by the state) must be notified of the situation within two days, so that they can make alternative arrangements for education this fall. Dayton, which has the highest number of community schools in the state, has several nearby options for the students as well as the Dayton Public Schools.
The Lucas County ESC currently sponsors 72 charter schools throughout the state. If Pace Career Central Community School were to close, that number would drop to 71 but the LCESC would remain the largest sponsor of charter schools in Ohio.
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2 comments:
Thank you for the promptness of this update.
Firstly, Pace Career Central (PCC) does in fact have the approval from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to “bill” the mission of the school as a “Dropout Recovery” Educational Option through an application submitted and approved on July 1, 2008. I find this statement odd coming from LCESC Board of Directors and consultants who have this information available to them and then incorrectly commenting.
Secondly: PCC’s has always vowed to protect those learners who have otherwise been considered as “throw aways” by other local districts since their inception in 2004, in a “Dropout Recovery” forum.
Thirdly: Lucas County Educational Service Center has been the sponsor of PCC since the opening of the school in 2004, and yet decides at the start (three days mind you) of the 2008-2009, school year to suspend the school when in fact all areas of examination have seen concrete evidence of improvement. Once again, completely ignoring those students who are in desperate need of alternative choice where other settings have failed them. The opportunity to put the students at the forefront of this “not yet founded” circumstance could have and most certainly should have taken place PRIOR to three days before the opening of the 2008-2009, school year, as PCC has responded repeatedly with tangible evidence of successful programs in place. Where PCC has hired 4 new Highly Qualified completely certified teachers, with their (LCESC)approval and knowledge just one week prior to the August 7, 2008, suspension. That alone should show complete poor business management. Numerous programs are currently in existence that has proven to be extremely successful when addressing this specific population. If in fact PCC was not operating at a level mandated by the Ohio Department of Education, I / we are confident a suspension and or closing of the school should have and would have taken place some time ago. This then speaks to Lucas County’s ability to successfully operate their Educational Service Center in a productive and effective manner.
Example of the above disregard for those students, families, long standing staff and new hires would be the letter sent out to parents, guardians and students from their office and signed by their Executive Director Mr. Jim George, advising families to either contact ODE or LCESC toll free number for guidance and information regarding the school’s current standing, or additional options for those learners enrolled. Upon parents contacting Lucas County they have been directed to contact the PCC staff (who have not been on the payroll since August 7, 2008) to address the needs of these parents and or students. Leading to the idea that PCC should fix all the inquiries coming specifically from Lucas County. This has been done in spite of the lack of financial compensation for this daily work by several PCC staff. This theory of protecting the students at PCC has always been the mission and commitment of the school. PCC regardless of this improper directing, have helped and explained this confusing process to students, families and community agencies involved with the school. Many hours have gone in to this advocating and providing for these students and families, yet no one reports on that matter of resolve.
It amazes me that if LCESC and others can not see this emergency need from a moral view point, and ethical standing as Ohio Educators in providing educational options for this “at risk” population through the above ethical viewpoint than lets consider the enormous financial strain that Montgomery County Ohio will undoubtedly face if in fact more school’s, business owners, and community advocates do not work together addressing these important and critical needs of this population.. One explanation may be that LCESC does not reside within Montgomery County Ohio; therefore their interaction with these students is quite frankly non-existent and one they will not feel the immediate strain from as their county is located hundreds of miles away.
Before commenting on the seriousness of our future leaders and those who have and can show actual successful interaction with these learners and the successfulness of their programs and commitment, it would behoove those reporting to obtain ALL the facts and circumstances first.
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