SDL hears strategic plan for Phoenix Academy
: School board meeting, Oct. 1.
What happened: Administrators who work for the company that runs the district's two alternative schools presented a 27-slide strategic plan for Phoenix Academy that includes a 15% raise for staff members, improved attendance monitoring and more detailed goals and reporting methods for student achievement.
Why it matters: Board members expressed dissatisfaction June 18 after voting to extend a two-year $13.458 million contract with Camelot Schools of Pennsylvania LLC to run Phoenix and Buehrle academies, which serve the district's most vulnerable students.
: The company, a private education service provider, manages Phoenix, which provides accelerated learning and credit recovery. That campus served about 423 students in grades nine through 12 during 2023-24. Buehrle helps students in grades seven and eight with behavioral problems and saw about 100 students last year. Camelot provides administrators, teachers and staff for both schools.
: In June, several board members said they voted to continue Camelot's contract because the district didn't have time to find new management. They also asked district administrators to come up with a different plan to run both schools.
: At the time, board members cited concerns, such as insufficient reporting for state test scores, and low student achievement, attendance and staff salaries.
June 18 quotables: "There's little evidence we're getting anything from this contract," board member Dave Parry said June 18. "We're sort of in a bind." Board member Molly Henderson noted, "Everybody seems pretty unhappy with the situation," while board members Kareena Rios, Jennifer Eaton and then board member Cheryl Desmond also expressed concerns about Camelot.
: Superintendent Keith Miles promised to work on a new plan with Camelot leaders. Phoenix administrators presented their answers during the Oct. 1 meeting.
: "We remain focused to address, with a sense of urgency, how we can support our students better," Terry Martin, the district's assistant director of student supports and services, said Oct. 1.
: The alternative school's administrators outlined new programs and committees to engage students, keep them focused and reward them for attending schools.
: "We are really here for the students," said Jon Back, academy principal.
Higher pay: Staff members received a 15% salary increase beginning this year. Parry pointed out in June that the Phoenix's average annual teacher pay of $51,500 was lower than the $58,597 beginning School District of Lancaster educators made their first year teaching in 2023-24.
Academic goals: Phoenix leaders plan to increase math and English language arts proficiency by three percentage points per year over the next five years. They also want to close achievement gaps among different groups of students. In math, administrators plan to lower the percentage of students who score below basic by three points each over the next five years. Proof will come from state test scores, Joseph Gettle, the academy's executive director, said.
: Phoenix has instituted an 80% annual attendance goal with average daily attendance set for 70%, according to the plan. In addition, a new employee who will monitor attendance and contact families will start work Oct. 14, Gettle said.
: Board members asked questions at the end of the presentation but offered no comments. The school district or Camelot may terminate their agreement with 30 days' notice despite the two-year agreement.
