A lot of people are facing big jobs as students prepare to go back to school.
None of them is bigger than the one facing Joe Watkins. And he’s not even a student.
But Watkins’ task becomes even more problematic because a lot of people are going to view him as simply the latest push by the Corbett Administration toward the privatization of public schools.
Chester Upland already faces a huge pitfall because so many of its students are enrolled in charter schools, siphoning off much-needed state funding from the district.
Residents now must come to grips that the man selected to lead the school’s recovery has very close ties to the charter school industry, including the biggest charter school in Pennsylvania, Chester Community Charter School.
Watkins is familiar with Chester Community Charter. He used to work for them.
He also headed a political action committee called Students First. It pushed the interests of vouchers and charter schools, including bankrolling the gubernatorial campaign of state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, who based his campaign on a renewed charter school push.
CLICK HERE to read John Kopp’s profile on Watkins.
He has an impressive background, having worked for a U.S. president and senator, as well as running for office himself. He’s also a pastor and Republican political pundit, who has routinely appeared on TV talk shows.
But he will need all those talents to convince the residents in Chester Upland that he is not here simply to dismantle what is left of their school district.
“I come to this with an open mind and an open heart,” Watkins said.
For far too long, the students of the Chester Upland School District have come last.
It is our hope that Watkins can change that.
We dont pretend to have the answers to what ails Chester Upland. The district has been in decline for so long it’s hard to know where to start.
That’s now Watkins’ job.
Right after he convinces people that the solution is not to simply turn the entire district over to the charters.
We wish him well.
Comments