Educator says (Charter) school fired her for reporting abuse

[The Straight Story]

Educator says school fired her for reporting abuse

By Martha Woodall

Inquirer Staff Writer

A former librarian from Community Academy Charter School in Kensington has sued the school, its founder, and a related nonprofit on the ground that she was improperly fired a year ago for reporting a case of suspected child abuse, as is required by law.

The suit was filed in Common Pleas Court Friday by Georganne Hardin-Fong, a veteran educator who was hired by the school in June 2008. According to the complaint, Hardin-Fong worked as a librarian with a salary of $60,000 until she was fired abruptly March 27 by Joseph Proietta, Community Academy's founder and chief executive officer.

Proietta said he could not comment on the suit because he and the school's lawyers had not yet seen it, but he disputed the assertion that he had fired Hardin-Fong because she had reported suspected child abuse.

.....

The complaint is the latest legal difficulty facing the charter school, which opened in 1997. Teams of federal agents raided the school in August to investigate allegations of criminal misuse of taxpayer money.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/89095197.html

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Does it not stand to reason that there is going to be an avalanche...

... of cases like this as the Obama administration pushes school privatization? Speaking for myself.... having a union is the ONLY thing that's kept me from being fired for speaking up for kids over the years.

The ONLY thing.

I don't get why these alleged liberals don't get this.

[mzteris]

2. charters can be and ARE union.

And you do know that some public schools AREN'T?

I dunno, maybe it's because I grew up in an area of the country where Unions not only aren't prevalent, they're actively discouraged. I'm not saying I agree with that, but lots of people in this country get a long perfectly fine in their jobs without the protection that a Union causes.

To me, the "union-buster" meme is just another 'talking-point' against Choice in Education.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. Your argument:

1. Some charters are union.

2. People don't need unions anyway.

3. I have a hidden anti-choice agenda in pointing out that privatization (or charterization, if you insist) is likely to result in more administrative abuses of the kind alleged by the plaintiff.

re. # 1. That's true. But not many around here. (NYC) Do you have any stats about charters nationally ... i.e. percentage of employees who are unionized?

re. #2. That's a pretty odd position for a denizen of a progressive website.

re. #3. Only I can know if I have such an agenda. I don't.

[tonysam]

7. And even a union doesn't prevent retaliation by principals in public schools

The unions are better than nothing, but often not much.

[mzteris]

3. And A) this doesn't happen in traditional schools? and

B) the OPPOSITE doesn't happen in schools fires teacher for NOT reporting abuse - both charter and otherwise?; and C) teachers are sitting in the "rubber room" for how many years because they've been accused of abuse yet the schools CAN'T FIRE THEM so they sit there drawing pay??


What's the point of this story? Is it a "charter slam", a "pro-union" post, or a "all librarians are obviously saints" thread?

How about the "rest of the story", eh?

Two points - she didn't follow procedure, and the charges of child abuse found to be - er - unfounded.

[The Straight Story]

4. It is just news :) My daughter is homeschooled via a charter school

We need to hold private/charter/public schools accountable. Same as we do our politicians/etc.

[mzteris]

5. we need to hold ALL schools accountable -

you're right. But the way you posted it put the emphasis on "CHARTER". . . and you know the long suffering battle to overcome the prejudice against charter public schools - just like against hs'ers.

Hey - if you're doing Keystone, can you pm what you think of it? I'm trying to find out what it's like in practice rather than just reading the website. . .

[The Straight Story]

6. We are doing OHVA - and the reason I emphasized it was

I was trying to differentiate - someone else asked me to add 'private' to a thread title on another school (was too late). There is a difference in how schools are run and how they are accountable and I try to be clear (but sometimes just post the title as it appears, post a lot of articles so I don't always get it right and clear).

My sister, IIRC, used Keystone and some other one (It was Key something or other) for her three kids. I am happy with what we have right now, works well for our situation - which is why I am all about choice when it comes to schooling. What works for one family may not for another - do what is best for you.

Pro-choice means you have choices :)

[mzteris]

8. If you happen to talk to her

anytime soon, would you mind asking for some feedback from her on it?

My son is considering going to a boarding school (for the arts) next year, and they include Keystone in their program. I think he'd be happier with something else, just based on what I see, but then that would cost me to have a different program implemented. Also, if all the kids there are doing Keystone, then he could have more interaction when doing his work - which could be a good or a bad thing! lol

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Some interesting details

Hardin-Fong alleges that around March 25, 2009, she learned that one of the school's students might be a victim of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at home and that adult relatives might be selling drugs.

Two of the student's relatives are Community Academy employees.

Hardin-Fong reported her concerns to a licensed social worker employed by the school. The social worker told Proietta and the two agreed that the allegations were "not reportable."

Hardin-Fong said she had been told that nothing further would be done.

School employees selling drugs? Hmm. This does look interesting.