While it doesn’t appear on the agenda for their meeting this Thursday, it is expected the Delaware State Board of Education will vote if Odyssey Charter School will get a formal review. This gained a lot more traction based on an email that went out from school leadership to interested parties last Thursday.
May 9, 2019
Good afternoon Odyssey Charter School Faculty, Staff, Students, Parents and Community,
We want to update you firsthand about our ongoing developments with Department of Education (DOE): DOE is working with OCS in response to complaints that DOE has received over the last 6 months. On the afternoon of May 1st, the OCS Board proposed some significant changes that will make our decision-making process more transparent and inclusive. DOE is reviewing this proposal. An email from DOE was shared by an OCS parent on the OCS Parent FB page this afternoon. This email from the Charter School Office provided context and timing of a possible process. Based on conversations with DOE, we understand that a school closing, while highly unlikely, is only used in the most drastic circumstances. The State Board of Education meets on Thursday May 16th; DOE will inform us of next steps, of which could potentially include a formal review. A formal review does NOT mean a school closure. Remember, this is a collaborative process, and we are in regular contact with DOE. OCS is a family, and together we will continue to work towards one goal – the success of our 1800 students. We will share information with you as soon as DOE shares it with the OCS Leadership.
Denise Parks
Riccardo Stoeckicht
Joe Wolcott
The big question is the grounds for a formal review. It could be a plethora of reasons but I’m going to go with potential financial improprieties and/or organizational issues. There have been numerous allegations against the board for conflicts of interest involving a leadership position for the former President of their board. Furthermore, many have expressed displeasure with the AHEPA majority on their board. AHEPA is a Greek organization aimed at promoting Greek culture and education in a school setting. Many claim the male-dominated AHEPA is not something the school wants or desires in the 21st Century. Last year teachers voted to join the Delaware State Education Association. I’ll report more when I know it after the State Board of Education meeting.
The Season Of Myths 
Hello. Curious, If all Charter school teachers are on one year contracts, could a school simply decide to non-renew the contract of teachers who voted to organize a union? The reason could be given that it was not their support for union, but the school simply decides to go in another direction in that area? 🙂 Wonder if that could apply for medical issues also?
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Yes, let’s get rid of good teachers… idiot
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I believe you misunderstood my perspective. I was not supporting a Charter School to do something like this, I was concerned and asking for “good” teachers who may try and organize a Union and face reprisal from the Admin/Board. Teachers may be hesitant to form a union for fear of losing their job and because they are on a one year contract and the school can simply say they decided not to renew the contract; therefore, the teacher has no recourse. I’ve lived this more than you and just because you read my comment and interpreted it differently then my intent does not translate into calling me an “idiot”. I typically agree with your viewpoint in support of public schools, I am not a big-time blogger, online name caller, etc. and will not return the favor in calling you a name. I thank you for teaching me a lesson not to participate in these types of blogs.
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My apologies True North. It was rude and uncalled for. I saw it as planting an idea in the heads of charter schools and I overreacted.
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Wow Kevin, way to be an ass to a guy asking a legitimate question of possible considerations of the odyssey board. try reading to understand and not to criticize
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I just apologized to him. I was an ass.
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Newark Charter just followed in OCS footsteps and voted to make their board president the school director.
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I see on their website the Chair of their board is the faculty representative. Did the Chair recuse his vote if he got the vote?
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Anything Leroy Travers touches turns to shit.
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I think Leroy is doing the right thing in this case
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We’ll see…
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