An Outrageous Proposal

The Chester Upland School District is in trouble.  It's out of money.  The teachers are working without pay.
(see "For Chester Upland families, anger and panic over looming shutdown," by Dan Hardy, Inquirer, 1/12/2011)

In 2010 and 2011, 19 donors contributed over $6 million to the Students First PAC to influence education reform (in favor of charter schools).  (see "Keystone State Education Coalition: contributions to Students First PAC" 1/09/2012)

So, here's my suggestion:  Perhaps a few of those 19 donors would be willing to contribute to Chester Upland, or to pick some aspect of the student and improve it.  Someone could pay for building renovations (paint the classrooms one at a time) or for school security or the school library or the school nurse or after school homework help and mentoring. 

I'm willing to bet that the Chester Upland would be more than happy to entertain suggested changes from the Students First donors in return for some much needed cash.  Outline some changes, follow them, and show us how it's done.  We'll check back in a couple of years and see how it's going. 

Here's a chance to have a real measurable verifiable affect on a school. 

I know it's a foolish notion but seeing those two stories a day apart was just too tempting to pass up.