Sixth Hearing on SVRCS Appeal

One More Hearing Remains Before Decision

wpid10412-sv-charter-logo-150220.jpgBALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP — The Keystone Central School Board Thursday night conducted its sixth public meeting regarding the future for Sugar Valley Rural Charter School. With one hearing to go until a decision will be made, testimony from Sugar Valley’s administrative team was the focal point from the Loganton school’s representatives.

According to KCSD, Sugar Valley had been struggling to meet common core standards set by the state however, Tracey Kennedy, Sugar Valleys elementary administrator said, “When I was teaching we always based our core with the Pennsylvania State System.” Kennedy continued, “We look at data provided from teachers, students, and administrators work together to help create a curriculum around the Pennsylvania Common Core.”

KCSD made it clear that Sugar Valley has been struggling to prove to them that Sugar Valley students are succeeding just as well in the charter school compared to KCSD. Kennedy testified that “I don’t think one test, such as the PSSA’s can define any student’s success and ability to learn.”

Sandra Garverick, Sugar Valley Charter School’s Executive Director of the Board since 2007 said, “The kids are learning skills not seen anywhere else. They are learning how to sheer sheep for the sheep to shawl program, or they go out into the community and provide services for the locals. We’re instilling these kids to go help the community.” According to Garverick SVRCS is more than just a school for the students. Garverick said, “The school is a central hub for community involvement. We have movie nights, yoga classes and other activities there all the time.”

Gaverick, in an emotional statement to the KCSD board members said, “I hate to see this all go away and have the school closed. I plead with you to keep us open.”

The last witness was William Deavor, Sugar Valley’s Administrative Coordinator. Deavor, a one-time substitute teacher for KCSD said, “Sugar Valley is a unique place because it has an environment for students like no other.” Deavor continued, “There is someone there for everyone. When you are at SVRC, everyone knows who you are and no kids get left in the background.”

Deavor explained that many of the issues the Charter School had been facing such as having proper certifications and clearances for all faculty and staff members had been cleared up. Deavor said, “Items that fell through the cracks have been discovered and are being resolved.” Deavor continued, “The school has created new checks so no clearances are missed, and that no one is allowed to come back to SVRCS unless they have their clearances for the ‘15 and ‘16 year.”

Sugar Valley’s scores have been lower than what KCSD schools have been scoring, but Deavor said, “To compare one school to another is difficult because there are a lot more factors that go into it than just testing. It’s not exactly easy to compare something like that.”

The seventh and final hearing regarding the future for Sugar Valley is scheduled for August 27th, and will consist of testimony from both KCSD and Sugar Valley, to be followed by another vote from the school board as to the school’s future. The board is already on record as moving to deny another 5-year charter for the school.

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