Sec. Murphy's statement to the NJ regarding Pencader

By Elizabeth Scheinberg

There's a lot of conjecture out there right now about what will happen to Pencader. I've had a renewed run on the telephone with parents asking if our school will be closed. To that end, rather than conjecture, I asked the PIO at DOE if I could have a copy of the statement sent by Sec. Murphy to the News Journal. She quickly supplied it.

Italicized to indicate direct quote and statement entirety.
Here it is:

Last year the State Board of Education placed Pencader Business and Finance Charter School on probation <http://www.doe.k12.de.us/news/2011/0722.shtml> . The school faced closure because of governance and financial issues.

Over the past 13 months, the Delaware Department of Education has been providing support to the school to help its leadership regarding several outstanding issues. Through this partnership, the school made significant progress improving in many financial issues. However, in recent months the school's leadership in several instances has failed to follow the state's guidance on governance and financial issues. The school also failed to address these remaining issues on its own.

The department, in partnership with the State Board of Education, is becoming increasingly concerned about the school's viability and the effect on students and families. Specifically, the following ongoing issues are threatening the school's viability:

o Decreasing enrollment

General's Office investigation into violation of Freedom of Information Act

o Pension Board referral to Attorney General for investigation of possible criminal and/or civil violations

o Failure to implement mission statement

o Possible conflicts of interest with various contracts

o Building-level financial oversight concerns

For several months state officials have attempted to work with the school, giving its board ample opportunity to improve voluntarily. The board has demonstrated limited capacity to govern the school. Students, families and staff deserve better.

"Conditions have deteriorated over the past few weeks and action is required," State Board of Education President Teri Quinn Gray said. "We are trying to do what is best for students, families and staff both for this school year and, hopefully, for the future."

Secretary of Education Mark Murphy said, "President Teri Quinn Gray and I will be meeting with the Pencader Board leadership next week, wherein these issues will be resolved one way or another."