Another Sugar Valley School Hearing Scheduled

wpid10412-sv-charter-logo-150220.jpgBALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – The seventh hearing for the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School was supposed to be the end of the long, expensive process ongoing since late March. But at the Thursday night hearing it was brought to the attention of the public that an eighth hearing will need to be conducted in order to hear the last statements made from witnesses on both sides September 15.

At the relatively brief Thursday session Logan Coney, Sugar Valley’s CEO explained a PowerPoint presentation that displayed many of the students work around the community and conservation projects they conducted in school.

Many of the issues discussed during the hearing were related to the school’s lack of clearances, and whether or not the students themselves were being provided an education that meets the education taught within the Keystone Central School District.

Coney said, “We are able to meet the needs of the students,” and continued, “The best way for any traditional public school to close a charter school, and do it with integrity is to improve their own school.”

Charter school witnesses included Stacey Cruise, CEO and founder of the Legacy School Services, an institution based out of Philadelphia. Legacy School Services was hired by the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School to consult them on preparations for the hearing.

Cruise said, “I’m enthusiastic to see that there are students who have graduated and are coming back to support their school. You don’t see that at other institutions.”

Butch Knauff, acting board president for KCSD said, “It’s unfortunate we have to have these meetings every five years. The entire cost to have these hearings so far has been $71,350.”

Knauff continued, “I think this entire idea of renewing the charter every five years should be sent to the state to decide because, no matter what decision we make whether it be yes for renewal or not the decision will be appealed and Harrisburg will opt to renew the charter.”

Knauff indicated, “Once the final hearing is conducted a decision from the board will still be months away.” 

The final hearing will conclude at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Mountain High School library on Tuesday, September 15.

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