Oxford school officials may take a stand on charter school reform

LOWER OXFORD » Oxford Area School District Superintendent David Woods is asking school board members to consider taking a stand on charter school reform.

Legislation is currently pending in Harrisburg on charter and cyber charter school reform. As Woods described it, the state funding formula might be changed. The district currently spends about $4 million a year on tuition to charter and cybercharter schools attended by district students.

“In my opinion, we need all kinds of education, cyber charter and charter being viable options for the education of our children. It is also my opinion that the funding formula is in need of adjustment in certain areas,” Woods said

Woods provided board members with a sample resolution in support of reform. “I’m asking the board to consider lending its power and its weight to this resolution to assist the state in coming up with a fair formula for funding charter school education,” he said.

Board member Eric Owens, who is the district’s representative to the Chester County School Boards Legislative Council, commented that part of the impetus for the resolution came from other districts in Chester County. “A similar resolution is being considered by a number of school districts across the county,” he said.

At this point, the resolution is a discussion item that the board will see again in March.

During the meeting the board heard a presentation on Oxford Robotics, particularly the Middle School’s First Lego League. Oxford Robotics was founded in 2002 in the high school, and now covers Middle School and elementary schools as well, involving 100 to 150 students in grades 2 through 12.

In addition to building robots to meet competition challenges, the students research and present projects following the League’s theme. This year’s First Lego League challenge for

Team Sirius was to identify a problem in their community and present solutions. The team measured sound levels in Oxford restaurants on a First Friday, discovering that they all were close to or in excess of OSSHA standards. They then tested sound absorbing materials that could be used to address the problem.

The team’s presentation earned first place awards at the League’s preliminary scrimmage and regional competition.

Under new business, the board approved a contract with Oxford Transportation. Beginning with the next school year, new cameras and GPS devices will be installed on all district

buses. The contract also includes, for the first time, a vintage clause. This limits the maximum age for buses in regular rotation at 12, with spare buses no older than 14. The average age of a bus would be about 6 to 7 years old.

The board recognizes the service of local veterans by each month inviting one to begin the board meeting by leading the board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

This month, the board honored US Navy and Coast Guard veteran Tony Pellegrini. He and his wife Beth have lived in the Oxford area for the past 16 years. They have three children and one grandchild.