I know my communication skills suck but I am just a blog working for free ! However, one would think a public school would be more professional in their communications. DAPPS?? What the F is that? I must assume he is referring to Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security, DAPSS, You’d think he’d spell out the name of DAPSS in the first paragraph. Furthermore, this apparent brain-fart of an idea seems to be generated one-way! Where is Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security’s position on this? Also, Pencader charter is a school for business and fiance! Why is Pencader Frank trying to manipulate students into changing their career paths? Also, DAPSS DE DOE approved charter “curriculum” isn’t geared towards business and finance! As far as the SurveyMonkey.com! How low can you go! I am sorry but, if I were a minority I wouldn’t participate in monkey survey! One would think a survey letter be sent home with students (young adults) and return to the school. Personally, I think Pencader’s bullshit game with DAPSS angle without DAPSS acknowledgement is harmful to DAPSS. With apparent rejection of Pencader’s parents of such a merger the impact makes it appear DAPSS isn’t desirable. But for the record DAPSS is making great progress and offers a unique career paths in a valued professional service field. Our men and women serving in homeland security and first-responders are very valued and appreciated, As for you Pencader students lost in the shuffle, DAPSS is a great choice and should not be an option! Do consider Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security.
Attached is a copy of a letter send to me, I can verify the authenticity. So I can only take it on face value and treat as a credible rumor. The concerns I see in this letter such as DAPPS makes me suspicious! How can Pencader make such a mistake is such a critical piece of communication? The Delaware Department of Education needs to step in and provide technical assistance is closing Pencader without causing more stress to children!
March 13, 2013
Dear Pencader Parents and Students,
As you know, we are exploring the opportunity to strike up an affiliation with DAPPS. To that end we were also hoping to add our current junior class to the mix. Because DAPPS is not yet authorized for a senior class we would have to pursue an exemption from the state.
In order to move this forward with both DAPPS and DOE, we must have a good count as to your intentions. We had strong indications that DAPPS was considered an excellent alternative at our last meeting of parents. In fact, there was no dissent.
Since that time DAPPS held an open house for Pencader which only 20-25 families attended. We also sent communication home to you asking you to fill out a brief questionnaire indicating your preferences for next year. As of the writing of this letter, we have received report backs from just over ¼ of the parents.
My commitment and the commitment of the board is to stick with you to the end, trying to right the wrong concerning DOE’s decision to close our school. The alternative that was accepted was the DAPPS route. At this moment however, it appears that you have accepted the decision and are ready to move on. I respect that, if it is the case.
If it is not, and you still want to do whatever you can to keep the majority of our students together, we must hear for you on this matter immediately. Again, if you have not done so already, please complete the quick survey. It can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SBSP2KF.
I know this is a bad time for you. The board needs you to tell us what you are willing to do. The first decision to be made is the financial viability of affiliating with DAPPS. We cannot do this until we have a head count of the numbers of students willing to attend DAPPS. So, please respond immediately. If you are no longer interested in the DAPPS option, that’s OK; we just need to know.
Best regards,
Frank McIntosh, President
Pencader Charter HS Board of Directors
Filed under: Uncategorized
I guess this board doesn’t understand marketing. Unlike most survey’s where the ‘consumer’ interest is low, the interest here is very high. They answered the survey by not responding to it.
In addition there has been no public statement from The Public Safety School that even remotely indicates they are on board with this which leads us across the way, as we play pool, (hey it’s Friday) to wonder what if any arrangement has even been made.
A great idea run into the ground by board member’s with large ego’s, lack of testosterone and a stunning inability to see the truth about very obvious failings about personnel until the damage was done.
We’re asking Vinnie and Nickie to put in a food court.
This is just so sad. And again – it did not have to happen. You are correct. This Board’s ego certainly got in the way and no one on the Board knows how to deal with DOE. The previous administration dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’ when it came to responding to the State. Had they just left well enough alone, it might have taken another year, but they were going to be debt free, academics were great, and because of several egos, they got rid of good people who were doing the job and who the teachers and kids loved. The worst of it is, now you have staff and families who have to seek new jobs and new schools for their kids. It is amazing how certain individuals managed to destroy something so precious. DOE is just as much at fault and continues to lose the faith of the State. It is no wonder that many go to private schools or jump the line to other states. Hopefully Nickie will be able to get the sight rented and not lose his shirt. How profoundly sad for everyone involved.
The arrogance that this “new” board possesses is simply incredible. They continue to try and deceive the parents and kids that they are serving as they continue to try and make up loop holes that are clearly closed. That place was poised to make a complete recovery until egos and attitudes got in the way. Again, my only hope is that the state conduct a post mortem to analyze what happened and what can be done to fix it going forward!!
yeah, the school is closing because of this board. Whatever you gotta tell yourself there Gussy!!
You are so right. Looking back at the history, the previous group were right on track – bills paid – coming out of the formal review – teachers and kids happy – then getting rid of a phenomenal teacher because he said a student was ‘acting like a b……’ Really? No teacher would ever get dismissed for that, and the leader? So what! Short cuts are taken all of the time – it had nothing to do with how the school was being run. What a shame. And the worst part? None of it had to happen. Had they left well enough alone, the school would have been fine! I will say it again – how sad! The families and kids loved the teachers and staff that were let go – the school won the BPA state cup back in less than one year – they had a phenomenal staff and now all will be out of work in June. It just did not have to happen that way!
I agree that Mr. Lewis should not have been let go.
shortcuts?? What a slap in the face to anyone, ever, anywhere, who ever worked to earn any degree of any kind.
..and I will add a slap in the face to anyone who didn’t earn a degree because they didn’t have the time or money, but didn’t take a ‘shortcut’, as you call it.
Mr. Lewis should have been fired immediately after the incident, if not sooner. I thought charters preferred no unions so they could do just that. Instead, they innovated their way to self immolation.
Rumor today is that the 2 buildings will be used as a Ferris reform school annex due to severe overcrowding off of the 141 site.
Not a bad use since it is already configured as an educational facility!
My favorite part (yes that is sarcasm) is the fact that Frank thinks there is an “affiliation” to be made….Frank you don’t have a charter after June 30th, yes students can choose to enroll at DAPSS, but they won’t get a Pencader/DAPSS diploma and as it stands they will have to change their graduation pathway. DAPSS doesn’t offer a business pathway, but they haven’t applied for a modification to do so. They can’t enroll more than 15% over their allowable enrollment without a major modification filed by 12/31 – that date has passed, so they could do a minor modification but they haven’t applied for that either. Currently they are approved for the 13-14 school year to enroll 120 per grade level for 9th, 10th, and 11th per their modification last year when they reduced their enrollment per grade from 200 down to 120. http://www.doe.k12.de.us/infosuites/schools/charterschools/files/DAPSSMODAPP12.pdf
I didn’t see one business teacher listed in the list of teachers nor a technology teacher listed in this document. Their September 30th count shows 192 students enrolled out of the possible 240 spots. That’s exactly 80% which is pushing the minimum guidelines allowed. So if they bring in another 95 students next year on their own and get a minor modification to increase enrollment by 14.5%they could enroll 412 students total which would leave room for about 42 current freshman from pencader and 42 current sophomores because next year they would be 10th and 11th graders. in order to expand their grade configuration they still couldnt go beyond 412 students, since they would have to stay under the 15% level and that would mean approximately only 103 spots per grade level if they have 95 of their own freshman and sophomores this means less room for pencader transfers except for the 11th graders coming over for their senior year. yet after they are done, DAPSS wouldnt be left with many actual Business students from Pencader only about 8 per grade level and that wouldnt really support the addition of a business curriculum since the 95 other students per gradel level would have chosen to go there for their actual published mission of Public Safety and Security.
perhaps this long term logic is why we are not hearing from Charlie Copeland and his board that they want to modify DAPSS’ charter to incorporate the Business curriculum and “affiliate” with a revoked charter.
Now, now. kids have had their education disrupted, the landlords are left holding the bag but a handful of board members have had their very large, very stupid ego’s and very gutless ego’s satisfied.
Does anyone really think that students/parents pick a school based on any kind of ‘pathway’? Maybe those at CAB. That’s about it
In looking where my children will matriculate – I am absolutely looking at pathways. I know my children’s strengths, weaknesses, and what their “hook” is for staying engaged in school. Now, my kids are not old enough for high school, but I have already scoped out what exists and where. I am watching the schools that meet my cursory requirement to see if they can deliver on what they promise. I am fortunate that I have time to watch and wait for new schools to become established and for old schools to make improvements.
We understand the aggravation that the good people of Delaware must experience. After the secession to Sweden you will be part of a well-functioning school voucher system.
Read more at: http://delawarereferendum.wordpress.com
Sven-Erland – excellent idea! That way we can FINALLY start implementing education reforms Swedish style! Where do I vote?
Ferris annex is looking likely. Apparently the need to install a true kitchen is pricey and Vinnie refuses to pay it up front. So long a breakfast/lunch place, back to Portofino’s where the pizza is exceptional.
Wow Pencadermom – how about all the Nova mail order degrees that most of the educators with advanced degrees, have in the State of Delaware. At least, from what is understood, that an actual thesis was written and accepted. I would love to see what was needed for all of those Nova degrees. The bottom line is that all of this could have been avoided. I notice you did not have any complaints about the fact that bills were being paid and they were just about over the formal review process. Everything was moving in the right direction. You should go back and review everything written. Again – what a shame – 400+ students with no school next year (of course, minus the graduating seniors), and all the teachers and staff out of a job. I still go back to – none of it had to happen.
” I notice you did not have any complaints about the fact that bills were being paid and they were just about over the formal review process. ” – you are observant.
I never heard of a Nova degree. If they are ‘buy-a-degree’ diploma mills, than yeah, how bout them.. they should be shut down just like the other one was.
NOVA? Northern Virginia Community College?
Guy – you’re right this all could have been avoided if -
1.A teacher had controlled his temper and not used a culurally-loaded word to insult a student;
2.A school leader had done her job
3.A school board had acted to remove the SL when her inappropriate behavior had come to light
4.The board old and new had immediately tackled the concerns of the CSAC rather than engaging in a game of blame
5.The authorizer had intervened to provide technical support when the school’s predicament was presented with clarity.
6.And everyone had realized that a school cannot be successful on the reputations of those who run it – but on the quality of education provided and the commitment of those whose job it is to ensure it.
These are the failings that plague Pencader. This is the legacy. And those in wake of the disaster that this school now is can only hope that other schools take notice and install fail-safes to ensure that they do not ever follow the course charted by the entities involved here.
We’re pondering moving with the looming Ferris annex likely to happen.
Hint of what is to come…..the money guru was suckered by the water meter reader.
Pencadermom and Guy: Unfortunately there is much that is confidential in this saga, and YES, the teacher HAD to be dismissed, period. Much more to the story than was put out in the public. As to the “shortcut” to a degree….that was just outright lying and deception and not acceptable in a school, period, again. And the “diploma mill” in that instance was not shut down, it never existed. And while I’m on it, yes parents sure do pick high schools based on “pathways”….charters are special interest schools, defined by pathways. Weren’t you looking a business school when you picked Pencader? That is a pathway…. oh my…..so tiresome…..
” Weren’t you looking a business school when you picked Pencader?”- No, not at all.
Seriously, Pencadermom?
our picks were, in this order, CSW, DMA, Conrad, and 4th..Pencader tied with Newark.. all different pathways. Almost the same order that I hear a lot of other families say.
.. well, same order I ‘used’ to hear families say. So much has changed over the last few years
to quote Brad Paisley “I know at 17, it’s hard to see past Friday night”.
But we are asking kids to choose a ‘pathway’ at age 13 or 14. Crazy! Which is why I don’t think ‘most’ parents are doing that. Like I said before, with the exception of maybe CAB
Thinking about all of this is really distracting me today.
I should add, vo-tech is specific. I have a kid there. I was a little torn in picking that school, almost feeling like I was deciding for him that he would choose a ‘pathway’ of a trade as opposed to a pathway to college. And maybe that will happen, who knows. One thing that made that choice a little easier, was knowing a friend of ours whose daughter went to University of Delaware on a full scholarship after graduating from Hodgson, confirming what I was told. That kids can go to vo-tech and go on to college. My kid started out in 10th grade math (thanks to the quick paced math at Newark Charter) and will hopefully take as many math and science classes as possible so the option of college will be there if he chooses that when the time comes.
Come June 15th it will all come out. What I will share makes the new Dallas look tame. It’s amazing what people discuss over pool.
Look out water meter reader, it will start with you as it should.
I want the rights to the book on this school!!
Seriously though, somebody really needs to dig down and do a case study on Pencader…what went wrong started going wrong in the very beginning and over the years a lot of people tried to right the ship but it just couldn’t be done. The egos of this last board were just too much, and seemingly continue to be.
Om, my son also goes to a Vo Tech school and I had the same sorts of concerns. While he loves Electrical Trades, he wants to go to college to get a business degree so he can run his own business doing electrical so the trade is handy but the ambition is what will push them forward as you know. The concept of Pencader was well conceived and would have been a great option for students truly wanting to succeed in business. Regardless of what happened it still is a concept that should be looked at in the future!
I meant PM, not OM. Sorry!!
The business concept is a good one. I agree with that. I’m sure some families did pick it because of that. I just don’t think that for the most part, families are picking schools because of the ‘pathway’. Were any of you guys at the public meeting at Del Tech? If so, did you hear any parents or students worried about finding another business school? nope
electrical is a great trade, in my opinion