UPDATE 07/22/2012 WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Delaware State Board of Education met this week and said No Red Flags! There was no conversation in regards to pension issue. Don’t you think with the Delaware Department of Education meeting once a month with Pencader the pension issue would come up? Say what you want about Pencader but it looks like DE DOE and the state board of education is just as fractured and has serious capacity issues. Another failure on Governor Markell’s watch.
The Delaware State Board of Education met yesterday July 19, 2012 and has indicated Pencader has met the requirements of probation from the financial perspective. “As of today” Pencader enrollment is 450. No “red flags” re: finances. No debt carry over from last year. Hear for yourself, board meeting audio recording part 2 , start at 38:37
Well folks according to the Delaware State Board of Education all is well with Pencader with the exception of enrollment. The Delaware Department of Education meets monthly with Pencader and all seems well and on track.
So all of this is great news for Pencader teachers, students, parents and board of directors. So this should put an end to all the rumors and with the state board’s report I am satisfied.
Don’t come in here bashing Pencader or its leaders unless you have verifiable proof to what you have. And I must say, I am shock none of the rumors are correct. Also, a bit odd but nothing was said about the News Journal’s report on the bogus PhD. I guess the state board sees that as a local board issue.
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Apparently, the State Board of Education supports Diploma Mills, it’s the only reasonable conclusion to come to,no?
This is good news and our board worked very hard to put in place a viable financial foundation. There is, however, a $160K outstanding loan which must be repaid by June, 2013 and that is a “debt.” However, no carry over of bills from one fiscal year to the next, and that had been the accepted practice.
John, I agree….I see the diploma mill issue as serious but it looks like they are only looking at budget issues here. Probation was about money, not integrity!!
Sounded like they asked about the items they had placed conditions and criteria around their probation, but they also asked some concerns around enrollment to which the person from the charter office answered that they had filed a viable budget and that they had a signed lease for the building. They mentioned that some issues were the responsibility of the charter board. You know they don’t tell Local school districts who to hire as superintendent or principals that is up to the local school boards, why would they do that with a charter school? I agree it’s time for the charter board to make the decisions and take the actions for which they are responsible.
They also raised some questions about Moyer, which seems to have even more enrollment and building concerns.
That’s exactly right. All imposed conditions centered on finances. We addressed those conditions last year and made the necessary corrections. The Board now has the responsibility to be sure that there is respectable, honorable, able leadership in place. In a charter school how well that works is clearly measured by the enrollment numbers. Right now enrollment is a huge concern with only 72% of the enrollment mandated by the school’s charter. Some very tough and very critical decisions ahead for this board.
What’s the story with Pencader’s lawyer being fired?
They fired Pencader because the leadership is just stuuuuupppiiidddd.
Let me see – I’m not a great legal mind – but if was a lawyer and my client didn’t take my advice, I’d fire my client, too.
But, I find it hard to believe that Saul Ewing would fire such a lucrative client (lucrative given the size of the school.) I’m sure it’s just a rumor.
retracted! If I was Saul Ewing and I read today’s paper, I’d run the other way, too!
Just read the story on delaware online about pencader and pension fraud. Why is this school still open!!!! or better yet why is Ann still in a leadership role at the school. Parents at Pencader you need to oust her or watch the school you love continue to go down the toilet.
Red where did you find that cuz i looked and didn’t find anything
[...] All is well?: http://kilroysdelaware.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/de-state-board-of-education-re-pencader-no-red-flags… [...]
Here’s the article.
Pencader needs to clean house or shut down.
The Lewis’ are destroying what could have been an excellent school. This is an outrage.
and the beat goes on…..Pencader didn’t fire the Saul Ewing law firm, the firm resigned as the school’s counsel. That leaves the school in a most precarious position right now.
The school board is comprised of volunteers (not the Bob Lewis kind of volunteer, but the kind who don’t get paid a cent) who, with the exception of the two teacher members, and to a large extent the current PTO President, are not in the building other than for meetings. These people are dependent upon information coming from the School Leader so that proper decisions can be made to move the school forward. Unfortunately this did not happen, and I believe it is not happening now. Generally when people hide information they are doing it for selfish reasons….and we are seeing that happen here. It is about the money, if it wasn’t why wasn’t the money returned?
I commend Nichole Dobo for honest, straightforward, in-depth reporting, beginning with the story about the phony Ph.D. fiasco. It just seems to be one layer piled upon another. The students and their families, the teachers and staffers, and especially the taxpayers of the community who are being cheated here deserve only the best.
It is past time for the Board to take swift, decisive, tough and very independent action. This school, like every school, should have leadership which demonstrates character, integrity, honesty, and an enviable stature. A thorough housecleaning is in order. Time for Team Lewis to move on. Fix this mess. Now.
I don’t want to be sitting here scratching my head and wondering what in the world is next?….I can’t even imagine…..
I totally agree with you, Harrie Ellen Minnehan.
“This school, like every school, should have leadership which demonstrates character, integrity, honesty, and an enviable stature.”
Amen, and amen. As I said before, if Ann Lewis will lie about having a Ph.D to the State of Delaware, what else will she lie about? Anything, apparently. It might not be a requirement of her position to have a Ph.D, but a Ph.D. does command a higher pay scale than a Master’s Degree. And does her husband’s “raise” from $25K per year to $60K per year correlate to when she became School Leader? I think it does. Its outrageous!
Today’s NJ article makes a mockery of our state DOE, don’t ya think?
Dan Cruce and the state DOE hiding behind the comment that they don’t have to monitor contracts is like a kid saying “I know I wasn’t supposed to eat the choc chip cookies, but you didn’t say I couldn’t have the peanut butter ones.”
It is a mockery to every taxpayer. The DOE has been warned of foul play many, many times.
Shame on them. Shame on us all for electing some of them and for standing by and watching it happen.
The Lewis’ knew damn well they devised a creep around the law. They stole money from tax payers. And Mr. Lewis taught morals and ethics….
Well said!
Does the wise DR. Ann Lewis not know the meaning of volunteer? A volunteer is a person that works for free. She states that she felt justified in paying her husband $68,000/year even though he worked part time and taught one class because she knew he would put in a lot of volunteer hours. Kilroy – you have repeatedly said nothing criminal was going on at Pencader. I believe this stuff is criminal. She knowingly deceived the Pension group. The Pension group even made her aware that she was in danger when she tried to get them to let her husband be a seasonal employee. Who is the third pension double dipper? Is it her relative the driver’s ed teacher? Beyond disgusted. Old A. Lewis is business as usual – her weekly newsletter doesn’t mention a single word about the three page NJ spread on her corruption –
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=forums&srcid=MTYyMjU1MTg3NTUwMTg3NzAyNDcBMDE0NjYzMjExNDg2MTgyOTczOTcBOUFFNzdENzlCMEIzMDU0RDgzRUZBQTY1RUMzNjk3NzAwNjNCREUyOUBCWTJQUkQwMzEwTUIzOTAubmFtcHJkMDMucHJvZC5vdXRsb29rLmNvbQE2AXBlbmNhZGVyY2hhcnRlci5uZXQ
How many students did the $2,000+ of tax payers money get to enroll in Pencader in the block party of the century yesterday? I am filing another complaint with Tom Wagner about the school. I don’t want Lewis to only have to pay back this year’s double dippng $. I think the tax payers have a right to demand it all back. Not sure we will see a penny of it though since the Lewises seem to play the lawyer game all the time with their personal finances. Avoid civic association dues until they are taken to court, go into foreclosure until the very last possible moment, etc. I can understand personal hardships. Not too sympathetic when this is going on and they are spending the weekends in their 2nd home in the Poconos.
I believe also that there is criminal activity here because there was a conspiracy to defraud the government of monies due. The third teacher is a math teacher and her hearing is not scheduled until September. She’s not, to my knowledge, one of the cast of friends and family. Everyone involved here knew exactly what they were doing. When a teacher retires in Delaware there is so much paperwork to fill out that your head spins but there is plenty of explanation given about your “work” options within the State vis-a-vis your pension benefits. Bob Lewis tried to claim that the rules were “unclear”…..but I guess if he doesn’t know what a “volunteer” is it’s no wonder words like “morals” and “ethics ” are confusing. When I think of all the teachers who hiked out each day heading to their second job so they could make ends meet it just makes me furious. Nobody ever promised life would be fair but there shouldn’t be somebody standing over your shoulder grabbing more for themselves at every turn.
It looks like the Lewises son is a slacker. The Pencader website states that Mr. Lewis teaches Math/English. Nothing about an ethics class. Mr. Lewis was definitely teaching math classes. According to his own report in the January Monday Memo, he discusses what he is teaching. LIes on top of lies on top of lies.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=forums&srcid=MTYyMjU1MTg3NTUwMTg3NzAyNDcBMTcxNzI0OTMxMDI4ODAxNjEwNDkBQ0FQeTlCZ2cyUj01ZVZaYT1pVXdQczc3aTU5MkZNanVBdW9DR0hIV1pYM2ZiRTR0V1FRQG1haWwuZ21haWwuY29tATQBcGVuY2FkZXJjaGFydGVyLm5ldA
One other thing: as far as i know Bob Lewis always worked full time. He was at work at about 6:30 a.m. and left around 3:30 in the afternoon. Fall semester he ran a “resource room” which is a place kids can go to for extra help in math. After a business teacher was let go because of the enrollment numbers in the September 30 count he did share the “Morals and Ethics” class, I think, but only for a very short time. It was then handed over to the Discipline Dean. In the spring semester he had 3 classes each with 4-5 students in them. These were basically “credit recovery” classes for kids who had done poorly first semester in math and were trying to regain the lost math credit. Other than that he did bus duty before and after school, lunch duty, and after school detention once a week. Not a volunteer but hardly a full five class a day schedule like everybody else had. Probably a perk of sharing your roof with the school leader.
I’m told a certain school management company let a husband and wife go and they are now employed at 170 Lukens drive to handle $, etc.
Notice no denounciation for anything from the Delaware Charter School Network?
At least this proves charters screw up as badly as public school’s.
Really??? Betcha the Board knows nothing about that………..but I know who you are talking about….yep. the husband’s name was in the article today, in fact! It’s a small world after all….
“At least this proves charters screw up as badly as public school’s”- and who did you need to prove that to? I never heard anyone say charters were immune from screwing up.
And, in my opinion, this is not about a charter screwing up, it is about certain individuals fucking up.. excuse my language, I’m not exactly happy right now
Yep, and your French is fine!!! I just had a conversation with one of the Board members and asked if they were prepared to make necessary changes….the answer, “no.” Before I put an axe through the screen of my monitor I just thought I’d send this message….why can’t Board members stand up for anything? ANYTHING???? We had the same old problem all spring. WTH………….all I can say….don’t the kids and the families deserve the best? the very best? Maybe I’m a throw-back to another time and era………….
I’ve said it before and I say it again. It is the Board’s responsibility ultimately to run the school. The Board is responsible to DOE and the Secretary of Education not the School Leader.
Folks, we have to have an elected board that oversees DE charter schools–however we (through the legislature) decide to structure that (state level, per district, etc). This is ridiculous–full on corruption at Pencader charter, and taxpayers wringing their hands b/c NO ONE “in charge” (theoretically) has reason to respond to public concerns. Why should the governor’s appointed board care we we think or want?
If we don’t get elected leadership overseeing charter schools, they will increasingly become opportunities for savvy individuals to siphon public funds to serve themselves, in a variety of ways. Sad but true. The point of elected governing bodies is to curb these predictable tendencies. How many of us would be writing our elected charter school board rep. right now about the Lewis’s, if we had one to contact?! I know I would be–but I’ve contacted state board members multiple times in the past several months, and they aren’t responsive (they have no reason to be–if Markell is satisfied, they’re good).
Ray is exactly right: this is the responsibility of the Board….a Board member told me today, “well, I’m only one so if you want something done why don’t you do it?” Why in the world get on a board if you are not willing to take responsibility and do the right thing for those you are responsible to: parents/students/taxpayers? The next sound you will hear is me scratching my head….again……
[...] View article… [...]
Mrs. Minnehan and Ray are both correct. The Board is responsible and should take immediate action. It is Clear that Mrs. & Mr. Lewis intended to defraud the state, pension plan and Pencader. Mrs. Lewis should be fired yesterday, Mrs. Minnehan should be asked to come back to the Board (if she’s crazy enough to do it), and Mr. Lewis should and the others should pay back either pension payment or Pencader salaries.
Yes, citizen, the taxpaying public was also defrauded in this case. Your elected board would also have to have a say in other districts as they receive funds from your taxes as well. Unfortunately, this type of thing can occur at any level of public or private organizations. All it takes is a person who knows how to game the system. It has happened in traditional, charter, and private schools. Rarely, are consequences equal to the action. I hope this is the exception.
The only positive is that the pension system caught this and is looking into it. Some aspect of government oversight is doing its job.
Not only were the “singing DoE mice” suffering from laryngitis, Kilroy, apparently so were all of DoE, especially its Charter department, and everybody else who is supposed to watchdog these schools. Question: Is the laxity across the board, or did Pencader just get lucky?Also, are there any other schools looking for a teacher to teach one class for $6500? If so, I’m there.
Ray, I hear your concerns about the State Board not acting, but from what I have understood, it is not their action to take, it is the Pencader Board. When I listened to the recording it was clear to me that the state board was asking questions and even complaining that this information wasn’t being freely brought to them, that they had to ask for the update, and ask the right questions to get at all the information they needed. IN recent recordings members of the state board have been asking tougher questions of DOE, but we have to remember that neither DOE nor the state board can fire the school leader, that is the Pencader board’s responsibility. Interesting to me that the article didn’t have any quotes or mention of the state board, wonder if the reporter even talked to anyone from there or only talked to the DOE. The News Journal editorial comments certainly seem to blame DOE and the State Board for this inaction, but there is absolutely no quote or even comment from the News Journal that they talked to a member of the State Board. ONe would think they would have asked them about it at their meeting on Thursday, since this story ran on Sunday, but without any comments on it, it seems to me that they only spoke to DOE. Further on the issue of the teachers and school leaders, without being an expert in the law, it seems the Pencader Board is the only one that can make hire and fire decisions, not the DOE or state board. The issues with the pension board seem like they are being handled through the appropriate channels, but it seems very clear that Mrs. Lewis was practicing to deceive the State and that should be criminal. The contracts with independent contractors, if not procured properly should also be an issue that is recovered in an audit and only after these items take their course does it seem that DOE and/or the State Board can act to revoke the charter, but according to Title 14, Chapter 5 § 516 the charter can only be revoked if the school , or its representatives, have committed a material fraud on the approving authority or misappropriated federal, state, or local funds or if it fails to comply with its charter or to satisfy the criteria for operation of a school set forth in § 512. Let’s hope that DOE and the State Board are working with the AG’s office, the Auditors office, and others to get the details they need to take the next legal steps. Above all, I hope that Harrie Ellen is wrong and the Pencader Board will finally step up and do the right thing once and for all. Their inaction sets a horrible example for our children in how to act with morals, ethics, and responsibility to those that we represent when serving on a board such as that.
Gosh – What’s really funny – Pencader’s charter says that its teachers will be paid 90% of the salary of teacher in the Christina School District. How many CSD staffers get $6500 month for teaching just one class? So, is Pencader ignoring its own charter now?
Don’t forget all those “volunteer” hours!
The sad part is that Ann Lewis purposefully misled the state pension office when she sent a copy of letter to the 3 teachers (including her husband) that stated:
Due to the Office of Pension’s stance that you cannot work as a seasonal employee, your employment with Pencader Charter High School is terminated effective October 1, 2011.
This is intentional fraud. It should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. As taxpayers, we should organize a picket!
This SB was hand picked and are Lewis puppets. They will not do anything about the mess. They are probably getting kickbacks with our tax dollars! I bet everyone of them has some kind of financial gain from being on the SB!
At this point it really looks like what Pencader needs is a whole new face….entirely new leadership to show the parent community, the academic community and the taxpayers at large that the school is important to us all. It doesn’t take a genius to realize (I almost said a Ph.D. but thought better of it) that the revelations of the past month have wounded this school. There is in place a new although highly inexperienced Board and that may become problematic. What I would say is needed is to get a committee together to get out there and find the best, most talented, most experienced leadership you can find. It will take 6-8 months to do it but it will save dollars, angst and reputation in the end. For the intermediate time put in an experienced, perhaps retired admnistrator who knows the community and knows education (and can work p/t) to run the place until that “best” replacement is found. i think that may be the best way to show that you are serious about rebuilding the reputation of the school by putting a brand new face on it. Status quo isn’t going to buy a thing right now but worries and questions about what hasn’t been found out yet….you know what they say about the second shoe dropping…. Just my thoughts….
I just had this conversation with Ray this afternoon. I am saddened at the deliberate, self-serving actions of a few that may eliminate everything that we have worked for. The original board was friendly with the school leader but understood where the friendship ended and fiduciary duty began. Evidently that has not carried over to the group you served with or the new, hand-picked group.
“The original board was friendly with the school leader but understood where the friendship ended and fiduciary duty began”
Now that is funny!!!!!!!
I would agree Susan!
When the original school leader and the school parted ways did you read about it for a week in the News Journal? Was there public outcry and angry blogging? No to both. Taking the high road is the appropriate course, not the continuous soap opera that is going on now.
Alan, I wish you were still there. I know you and your wife both do so much for kids.. and always for the right reason. It does not go unnoticed, at least not by me. Anyone that thinks different, well, they must not know you!
The problem is that the current SB’s eyes are so clouded (for whatever reason) that they cannot see the light of day. I am sure they are told excuses for the fake “Phd” and the fraud with the pension office. They can’t see the mess that is right before them, and are probably told to not listen to the news, parents, etc.
I have seen this more than once with this school. It is really sad when things get so out of hand, and no one will listen because they choose to listen to only one side of the story. In this case, the “Lewis Story”.
Since our state DOE will not intervene (they never do!), and it’s very doubtful that any official will either, it is totally up to the parents to take a stand. It takes a lot of energy, time, and stamina to stand up when something of this magnitude is wrong.
Parent’s have to decide what is best for their children in the long run. In no way, would I want my kids to “look up” to someone with this (lack of) integrity. It’s up to the parents and the kids to start shouting from the roof top!
Alan was your wife at William Penn
What do you mean by SB? do you mean Pencader Board of Directors?
I agree with you Susan, it seems to me that it was purposefully misleading and should constitute some sort of fraud. If she was acting a “representative of the school” that would place them in jeopardy under the statute I read earlier as well. Looks like first we need some legal action against her, the Pencader Board to step up and do the right thing for their school, and then let the AG, the Pension Office, and/or the Auditor due their work. First and foremost it seems like if the Pencader Board doesn’t act, the DOE and SBE will have to take some action under §516 and the allegations that they have or are violating their charter
With all the information provided in the article, the DOJ and AOA should be checking all the records, they should not wait to be asked.
It’s not like a prom invitation….the Secretary at DOE has been alerted as has Governor Markell. Let’s see who acts first!
No one should hold their breath waiting for anyone in Dover to act on this. For too many months (years?) Jack has been sending questions to DoE and state Legislators asking money and personnel questions – to which not one person has replied. We seem to be too far below the exalted for them to supply answers, especially when those answers will point out the discrepancy between “It’s for the kids” and what they actually do/provide. The air in Dover must have some special additive that prevents ethical, normal, responsible behavior. Reminds me of an old rock song that asked, “What’s that smell?” Unfortunately by the time “that smell” reaches me, sewage comes to mind.
The only answer I can get, besides “Thank you for taking the time to contact me” from the new Secty. is a bland, “this is a local issue for the board.” What about when the Board still needs their GPS to even find the school? Not much doubt who is running the board when you saw the picture in Sunday’s paper…check out where the School Leader was sitting….hmmm, pictures tell a thousand words….
Legislation is coming in January requiring all new charter’s to have their board go through 72 hours of in-service training run by the DASS. The school’s attorney will also have to attend each session.
The assumption that Ann was leading the meeting is just that an assumption. There are many assumptions flying around and I find it iteresting that earlier, Maurice Pritchett, a retired administrator from Christina, was mentioned as a solution for Pencader. He would have the same issue of “stealing” from the taxpayers if he were to receive a salary as the the retired administrator from Appo had ( student issue not withstanding). The superintendent of a local district is the executive secretary of the board and thus needs to be involved in recording what is going on.
The soap opera is trying to orchestrate what the outcomes are. The truth will prevail, there will be changes made and the school will continue on for the benefit of the students not for the benefit of the ongoing soap opera. I have been involved with Pencader in the past and have seen some positive changes and some challenges. Working to make changes within takes a lot of involvement and effort, as well as, communication and at times compromise. I also know that parents’ involvement was the 5% doing 95% of the work. It can’t be totally Ann’s way or totally anyone else’s way either. That’s why you have a board to generate a consensus not “one man rule.” The new board has to submit to training and will grow and learn. I don’t know; but, I would assume that they also bring some business acumen with them that could be applied even it isn’t palatable to someone who thinks things can only be run a certain way.
Those in Dover write the laws, if those laws result in this type of situation, than those who write the laws are responsible to change the law and not refer the people to the board.
DOE does nothing because they are doing what a few powerful elected officials and employees want. State legislators do nothing because they are afraid of losing votes.
If anything is to change, those legislators must get the message from the parents and community that those who want change have more votes than those who want more of the same, and that is why we need a statewide PTA that can motivate the parents and community and not try to be friends with those employees with power and our legislators.
Mrs minnehan what was your husband doing at the appeals meeting with bob lewis and the other teacher I just saw it in the news journal
Just an observer. He didn’t testify or anything like that.
It’s not going to end. Lewis is spinning more lies. http://transparentchristina.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/there-are-strong-rumors-that-ann-lewis-is-informing-peoiple-that-the-news-journal-is-lying-speciffically-about-her-husbands-work-duties-as-it-relates-to-a-pensional-qualified-position/#comment-25855
Come November – after the election – they get closed and Greggo & Ferrara get two empty buildings to lease for a 4th time.
I am not sure why there would be surprise with the State Board’s position. They are simply a puppet organization for the DOE. Anyone involved in education to any degree knows the DOE can’t run fast enough from anything where they might have to be accountable or responsible. Of course the DOE will likely have meetings to discuss this, all those people hired with race to the middle money have to have be able to have something to do, what is better than a meeting to hide out.