nsb press release slcs 10282011

8/3/2019 NSB Press Release SLCS 10282011

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Louis T. Muenker, D.Ed.

Superintendent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NSB Fires Back at SLCS

Board members criticize charter school for misleading the public

October 28, 2011Neshaminy School District

Langhorne, PA

Reacting to a School Lane Charter School (SLCS) press release which accuses the Neshaminyschool board of acting capriciously and arbitrarily, the board today revealed verifiable proof to showthat SLCS officials are misleading the public with false information.

Pointing to SLCSs claim that lease/purchase of the Eisenhower facility was added as a conditionafter board approval of the charter application in July 2011, NSB President Ritchie Webb displayed acopy of a June 28, 2011 letter from SLCSs attorney confirming that School Lane Charter School iswilling to negotiate with the Neshaminy School District regarding the lease and/or purchase of theEisenhower Elementary School as a potential site for the charter school.

Refuting the charge that the NSB changed the agreement outside of the public view, Webb said thatpage 9 of the transcripts from a July 19th public hearing and vote on the charter application veryclearly states that both parties would enter into a Lease Agreement for use of the Eisenhower facility.

I am furious that School Lane would accuse this Board of hiding anything from the public when wehave shown unprecedented transparency in all of our dealings, Webb said.

During the summer, the District allowed School Lane Charter School a walk-through of the buildingand School Lane officials said that they were going to obtain an appraisal report on the property. Todate, School Lane has not shared its appraisal with the District and denies even having one. Boardmember William OConnor labeled SLSCs behavior as suspicious and questioned their actions.

Why would they go through the effort of a walk-through and say they would get an appraisal, andthen not get one? OConnor asked. He added that SLSC went many weeks without any furtheraction on the Eisenhower building, and then with no advance warning notified Neshaminy officials onOctober 21st that they were no longer interested in this facility.

(Continued on next page)

eshaminy School District2001 Old Lincoln Highway Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047-3295


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OConnor said, School Lane has been rather vague about securing a location since the beginning ofits application, and theyve done very little to convince me they really have a site available for acharter school in Neshaminy. OConnor added, I feel like something else is going on here, andSLCS just isnt telling us.

Webb shared OConnors concerns by saying, prior to Eisenhower, School Lanes top choice for alocation was a building in the middle of a parking lot which is hardly a suitable location for anelementary school. Webb said, Outside recess for young children should not include dodgingparked cars.

Addressing SLCSs complaint that Neshaminy had not evicted its current tenant in the Eisenhowerfacility, Webb asked, Why on Earth would we kick out a tenant who is paying us good money whenSchool Lane hasnt even made us an offer on the building?

Webb summarized his frustrations with School Lane by saying, I know that charter schools are allthe rage these days, but it doesnt mean we dont do our due diligence and just rubber stamp theirapplication. We must always act with the good of our students as our number one priority

The Board President noted that School Lane can reapply for a charter school in Neshaminy. Wevealready demonstrated that we are willing to overlook their lower PSSA scores in order to bring schoolchoice into our district, Webb said.


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(Page 9 from transcripts of charter school application hearing, July 19, 2011)

nsb press release slcs 10282011

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