Schools Matter: Imagine's "Demonstrably Bad" Application in PA

Schools Matter: Imagine's "Demonstrably Bad" Application in PA

Imagine's "Demonstrably Bad" Application in PA

by Kenneth Libby

Imagine's attempt to expand in Pittsburg continues to progress (or regress?), this time with Pittsburg Public Schools superintendent Mark Roosevelt chiming in. After calling the charter application "demonstrably bad," Roosevelt added this (via Karamagi Rujumba at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette):

"They did not have a plan for developing a curriculum or how they would hire experienced teachers or a principal. They simply did not pass the standard of what it takes to operate a school," Mr. Roosevelt said.

But there's a bit more to this story, too. Part of this stems from real estate developer Sam Glasser's attempt to purchase real estate for the school (remember, Glasser has a history with Imagine), and part of this stems from a very legitimate concern for improving the education of communities not served by public schools:

After 43 years as a teacher and administrator in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Sarah Martin says the school system in which she spent her professional life still does a bad job of educating many low-income African-Americans.
Ms. Martin, 69, who retired from the district as a curriculum and instruction supervisor in