The School District of Philadelphia Board of Education Public Meeting Minutes August 26, 2022 A special action meeting of the Board of Education was held in hybrid format on August 26, 2022. Some Board Members, select staff, and some registered speakers participated in-person, while others participated remotely. Members of the general public who did not attend in-person participated via Zoom meeting platform. The meeting was convened at 9:00 a.m., by Joyce Wilkerson, President. President Wilkerson Board Member Lam made announcements concerning recording, copyright, participation in, and viewing of the meeting. Roll Call Lynn Rauch, General Counsel, announced that notice of this special action meeting was placed in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News on Thursday August 25, 2022. Additionally, notices were posted on the front door of the 440 School District administration building and the District’s website on Thursday August 25, 2022l.
Ms. Rauch also announced that the Board of Education met in Executive Session on August 19, 2022 and today August 26, 2022, to discuss privileged, confidential, litigation and quasi-judicial charter matters. Ms. Rauch conducted Roll Call. Members Present: Ms. Andrews, Ms. Danzy (remotely), Vice President Egea-Hinton, Ms. Lam (remotely), Ms. Fix-Lopez , Ms. Salley, Mr. Streater, Ms. Thompson (remotely), President Wilkerson – 9 Members Absent: 0 Attending: Tony B. Watlington, Ed.D, Superintendent Presentations President Wilkerson invited Biridiana Rodriguez, Director in the Charter Schools Office, Alicia Prince, Chief of Staff for the Superintendent, and Joe Antonio, Executive Director of School Transitions, to make a presentation concerning the Bluford and Daroff Charter Schools. The full presentations are included with meeting materials. Public Testimony and Registered Student and General Speakers
The meeting was opened to the public for presentation of statements by registered student speakers and general speakers. Ms. Rauch provided the applicable provisions of the speakers’ policy for the meeting. The following individuals spoke: Lisa Haver, community member, expressed disappointment in the manner in which the Board of Education handles charter school matters and stated that the Board should be holding five year nonrenewal hearings. She also stated that the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools objected to Action Item 1, alleging a violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. Lynda Rubin, community member, spoke about the management of Bluford and Daroff under the Universal companies and cautioned the Board to reconsider working alongside for-profit charter school operators. Dana Carter, community member, suggested that charter schools include a closure plan for parents. Diane Payne,community member, expressed disappointment in the renaissance school initiatives and the
negative impact this has on students and families, and stated that the Board should work on transparency, remove speaker caps, reinstate 3 minutes for speakers, restore school libraries, and share facilities data. Consideration of Action Items President Wilkerson introduced Action Item No.1 for consideration by the Board of Education.
Item No. 1- Universal Bluford Charter School and Universal Daroff Charter School – Approval of Release and Settlement Agreement Yes: Ms. Andrews, Ms. Danzy, Vice President Egea-Hinton, Ms. Lam, Ms. Fix-Lopez , Mr. Streater, President Wilkerson – 7 No: Ms. Salley, Ms. Thompson - 2 Adjournment President Wilkerson announced that the Board will be holding its next regularly scheduled Action Meeting on September 22, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. On motion, the meeting was adjourned at 10:13 a.m. Joyce S. Wilkerson, President Board of Education Tony B. Watlington, Ed.D. Superintendent