Chester Upland board votes to work with school choice leader
Joe Watkins will guide the Chester Upland district.
The Chester Upland school board voted unanimously Thursday night to work with state-appointed Chief Recovery Officer Joe Watkins in crafting a recovery plan for the financially distressed Delaware County district.
Watkins was selected as chief recovery officer this month by Pennsylvania Education Secretary Ron Tomalis under new legislation that gives Watkins broad power to recommend closing schools, renegotiating the teachers' contract, making budget cuts, privatizing school management, and turning schools into charters.
Under state law, the board was required to vote on whether it would cooperate with Watkins in devising the proposal. If it had voted no, the law mandates that Tomalis would seek the appointment of a receiver who would help Watkins carry out the plan.
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