HARRISBURG — Gov. Edward G. Rendell today applauded Commonwealth Court’s decision to name the Secretary of Education the interim receiver of the Chester Upland School District. Under the Rendell’s leadership, the Pennsylvania Department of Education took the extraordinary step of pursuing litigation to ensure fiscal control and academic integrity of the district.
“Today is a victory for Chester Upland’s children and their education,” said Rendell. “The court reaffirmed our position that the special board of control failed, not only in mismanaging the district, but also – and most importantly – not providing for the needs of the children,” Rendell added.
The court’s order also:
-Names the secretary of Education as the receiver of the Chester Upland School District;
-Provides the secretary with full access to district information and personnel and the special board of control is ordered to fully cooperate in fulfillment of the receiver’s powers, duties, etc.;
-Requires the secretary to approve any school district expenditure over $5,000;
-Gives the secretary full authority to monitor, assess and report on the condition of the district to the court to ensure that the district’s revenues and expenditures are kept in balance and used for the education of Chester Upland’s children; and
-Allows the court to retain the authority to resolve disputes over fiscal and academic matters.
“This decision moves us one step closer to our commitment to responsibly manage the school district and provide for a thorough and efficient education for Chester Upland’s students,” Rendell said.