Bringing the YMCA Back to the Glory Days

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Part 2: Special Master Adamowski, Miracle Man or Magician ?

Scroll down to Part 2 if you have read the introduction

Introduction

Steven Adamowski

Ron Robillard writing two weeks ago in the Chronicle's Album hit the nail on the head. He  explains that writing can be hard work but the fun part is doing the research. Robillard says,

 " Done right, research takes you to places you didn't know existed. When you start look­ing for information about one topic, you invariably run into something unexpected — and often more interesting than your initial topic."

That has happened to me in my short (maybe100 paragraphs) writing career. In October of 2012 I set out to paint a bleak financial picture of Windham suffering through the worst recession in modern times. Instead I found that Windham was riding out the storm quite admirably. See Riding Out the Recession Storm  

 The Conn Mirror announced the impending selection of a charter school for Windham on June 4, 2013. "The charter school will be run by Our Piece of the Pie, a Hartford-based nonprofit that helps and provides tutoring and counseling for vulnerable urban students.The school will be known as the Path Academy.

Going through the OPP's 650 page charter application two sentences stood out;

"In the event that this location (former Jillson Movie Theaters) is no longer available for acquisition or not prepared for school opening in Fall 2014, Windham Public Schools has preliminary agreed to provide space within an approved school building."

Just out of curiosity  I contacted Windham Schools Central Office. According to projections  space would be opening up at Kramer for the 2014-15 school year. Also the high school operates at half capacity with no appreciable student increases for the foreseeable future. I asked where, might, the new charter school be housed? Central office's reply; 

  "Where did you hear this bit of information?"

 Something started to smell fishy. 

"Could there be a story here?"

For two weeks a dozen emails bounced back and forth between myself and Central Office. I had two questions; Who in the Windham School organization committed to provide space, to Path Academy, and where was that space located?

What did I get? One spin after another. Stuff like:

"No one has ever doubted the need in Windham for the educational services that OPP provides, including our Board and Dr. Adamowski. There are many students in this community that could benefit. By our Board not endorsing it, they are simply not involved in any of the educational operations, decisions, etc of the school. It’s a completely separate entity from Windham Public Schools and that is why we are not involved. OPP has not even presented their proposal to our Board, they have only approached the Windham community."

Another day:

"The decision to come to Windham was made by OPP and was approved at the state level. Windham Public Schools has nothing to do with it even if administration and the Board has acknowledged that the charter school could be beneficial to this community. I can only speak on behalf of Windham Public schools, its administration and our Board. If you have further questions about why OPP’s proposal was approved for Windham you would have to direct them to the state or OPP."

It was like I was amidst a pack of frenzied figure skaters.

OPP's Bob Rath

June 10, 2013, I contacted Bob Rath, CEO of Our Piece Of the Pie. I explained the predicament. I asked him about Windham's commitment providing space in one of Windham's school facilities. He said it was a verbal commitment. I asked who made the verbal commitment? Rath wouldn't name names. He said, "lets just say a senior school official"  

June 11, 2013, I contacted Windham School's central office with Rath's comments and  asked again who made the verbal commitment? The reply:

"Will mention this to the Superintendent. Both she and the board have yet to endorse the PATH academy and have not had anything to do with determining space for it. I have also been told that no WPS space has been offered up to host the Academy should one of the proposed sites not pan out. So I’m in the dark on who the “senior official” is that is making verbal agreements.May I suggest that you attend one of the upcoming Board of Ed meetings (there is one tonight at 7pm) and ask this question during public comment."

So now they have me dancing through hoops. It's not only the spinning it's going to board meetings too. I know the board won't be helpful even if they know what is going on.

On June 19th I give it one last try. I send my final request:

"I would like a letter (email is fine) from The Master or The Superintendent stating that there has never been communications, verbal or written, concerning WPS granting Our Piece of the Pie and its President/CEO Bob Rath temporary or permanent use of any Windham Public School's facilities to house The Path Academy."

On June 29th, after waiting for a reply I dropped off a FOI request to Windham School's central office.

Someone was misrepresenting the truth. Was it Windham Schools or did the charter management company, Our Piece of the Pie, lie on their charter application?

Next, As Ron Robillard said in his Album story, " Done right, research takes you to places you didn't know existed." He was absolutely spot on.

Part 2 Special Master Adamowski's Attempted Coverup
September 24, 2013
John monaghan

Going through the OPP's 650 page charter application two sentences stood out;
"In the event that this location (former Jillson Movie Theaters) is no longer available for acquisition or not prepared for school opening in Fall 2014, Windham Public Schools has preliminary agreed to provide space within an approved school building."
Out of curiosity I contacted Windham Schools Central Office. According to projections, space would be opening up at Kramer for the 2014-15 school year. Also the high school operates at half capacity with no appreciable student increases for the foreseeable future. I asked where, might, the new charter school be housed? Central office's reply;

"Where did you hear this bit of information?"
Something started to smell fishy.
"Could there be a story here?"
After weeks of getting the run around , I presented a FOI request on June 29th to Windham Public Schools. I was determined to find who made the commitment of Windham school space to Our Piece of the Pie and its CEO, Bob Rath.

On July 23, 2013 we sat at a conference table, in the old Kramer building, in front of four inches of material requested via FOI. Virginia Ereshena, a retired Windham Middle School teacher, volunteered to go through the information with me. She split the pile in half and handed me two inches. Our mission was to find who committed and why they committed district school space to the charter group, Our Piece of the Pie.

We never found the smoking gun but the question quickly became inconsequential.

There it was, on the first page. Windham's central office staff was trolling for letters of recommendation to be included in the 650 page charter application that was to be submitted by the charter company,Out Piece of the Pie, due at the State Dept of Education on April 1,2013.

Karen Lewis, secretary to Superintendent Ana Ortiz, was tasked with coordinating the effort to recruit letters of recommendation from influential community leaders and prominent state figures. This day's targets included Mayor Ernie Eldridge, School board chairman Murphy Sewell and State Senator Andrea Stillman, chair of the State Education Committee. Dozens of emails between Central Office personal flowed back and forth. In the end none of the three committed to recommend the Charter proposal.


In the first dozen pages we found what we expected, Steven Adamowski was up to his eye balls attempting to bring a charter school, specializing in rehabilitating overage under-credited students, to Willimantic. 

We found that several top management central office personnel and middle managers devoted thousands of man hours during the 2012-2013 building a charter application, time taken away from from their normal duties of educating our students. . Those involved:

• Steven Adamowski 
• Superintendent Ortiz  
• Deputy Superintendent Kate England 
• Director of ESOL, Beth Brunet
• Director of Curriculum, Pam Cavanaugh 
• Director, Family and Community Partnerships, Wm Stover Steven 

Adamowski began putting together the charter application in September 2011, a month. after arriving in district. Our Piece of the Pie, a charter school management company. recruited by Adamowski ,out of Hartford, was the vehicle needed, by state law, to apply for the charter school and eventually manage it. OPP was awarded a no bid contract.

At a September 20, 2012 meeting Adamowski told those present that;

"Although there are still some barriers to making this school a reality the stars were beginning to align."
Not being familiar with adult and alternative programs offered by East Conn I contacted Rich Tariff. director of East Conn's adult programs. East Conn offers an extensive assortment of alternative educational programs....from Zumba exercise classes to job retraining programs and alternative high school diploma programs. East Conn's alternative diploma program graduates (Held at Windham High) 200 students yearly from 21 participating towns. At any given time there are approximately 1,000 enrolled students in East Conn"s various alternative education programs. Windham's BOE has utilized East Conn's adult recuperative programs for decades.

Windham High School entertained an alternative program up to three years ago when it was discontinued for budgetary reasons. It catered to approximately 30 students.

Question: Why would Adamowski go to the trouble, time and expense to create a multi -million dollar charter school in the heart of Willimantic's business district? Why would he change the way Windham and 20 other Eastern Connecticut school districts have educated those students that have not attained goal in a mainstream program? Why would Adamowski discontinue Windham's adult education relationship with East Conn? Those question were answered Sept. 20, 2012. A meeting led by Dr Adamowski and attended by the full cadre of WPS senior staff and senior members of the charter management company, Our Piece of the Pie, Adamowski gave his reasons for proposing a charter school to serve over age under credited student in Willimantic.. It comes down to money and statistics:

• If Windham High was to set up a recuperative program within the high school the $15,000.00 - $18,000.00 cost per student would not be fiscally unrealistic for Windham Public Schools.Using a charter school would bring Windham's cost down to $3 - $4,000.00 per student because recent legislation would reimburse, the charter company, OPP up to $11,00.00 per student. (actually $10,700.00 FY 20013-14) 
• There are approximately 90 under credited over age students in Windham at any one time. When these students enroll in the districts Adult Ed.(East Conn) program it negatively impacts the district. (when students enroll in a East Conn program the state considers them WPS drop outs) If they enroll in in the OPP charter they are considered still enrolled in WPS) 
• By creating an off campus charter school, high school administration can segregate disruptive student with emotional and behavioral problems. Adamowski is quoted in a September 13, 2013 Chronicle story: "One of the reasons for their (trouble making students) behavior is they are frustrated." Many of these students may fall into the overage, under-credited catagory of youths who will be admitted to the Path Academy charter school set to open on Main St.

The Special Masters claims that using a charter school with the revenue benefits the state provides will cost the district $3,00.00 - $4.000.00 per student. He apparently does not take into consideration the services that the district will/must provide:

• Student transportation 
• Health services 
• Food service off location and delivery
• Child care services
• Special Ed services 
• ELL services

Adamowski kept the citizens of Windham, teachers and most troubling The Windham Board of Education in the dark while orchestrating, for nearly two years, a Willimantic Charter School. Members of Windham's BOE found out about the charter developments through a State Board of Education press release.   Ending an email to Windham's Board members on April 5, 2013 with an apology, Adamowski wrote:

"I regret that apparently you have not received adequate on-going information on the district/charter partnership."

 On April 5, 2013 Murphy Sewall, chairman of of Windham's Board of Education wrote to fellow members:

"This proposal has been developed and submitted entirely independently of any school district including ours. They haven't asked for our advise or participation . I have made it clear to our legislative representatives that we are concerned about any possibility that this  proposed school would rely of any funding that would otherwise be directed toward the needs of the Windham School District.

Evidently, Dr Adamowski asked Bill Stover to ast as a liaison with Our Piece of the Pie which I find a bit odd because OPP has not invested any effort in communication with us.

In fact that there over age under credited students are in need of services, However, we are a significantly under resourced district with a number of other population that are also in need. As long as OPP continues to function as a loose canon, they operate outside of any rational effort to set priorities and manage resources in any rational way."

 Also, on April 5, 2013 Luz Osuba BOE member wrote:

"I have serious concerns with the new charter school.First and foremost  why was this not presented to the full board? Why will this school not be overseen by the board? They are claiming but I want to see data? In addition they are not going to bring the same program they have in Hartford."

Trying to placate an outraged BOE, Ana Ortiz's wrote on April 8, 2013 reminding the members of the board the proposed charter school was mentioned at a retreat back in July of 2012

As recently as July 10, 2013 Tracey Lambert , board member, wrote:

"Wait what ?!?!?! These people want a letter of recommendation on a proposal we know nothing  concrete about.

No presentation to the board, no finical accountability an they have already changed locations from their original plan.

I'm against a letter supporting a plan that I personally know little to nothing about. I am aware that you  perused, but nothing has been directly shared with the board.

How many students? What is the qualification exactly for enrollment? How are they able to deal with ELL students?

I say know no, until we know the whole picture."

We never found the smoking gun, the closest we came was a statement found in the minutes of a Sept. 20, 2012 meeting that states:

"Dr Adamowski has assigned Fryer Associates to work on a feasibility plan for the new location." (Former Jillison Cinemas)

The Fryer Associates feasibility study was paid for through the special master's discretionary funds provided by the State Board of Education.

Special Master Adamowski would like people think that a quick talking charter school salesmen representing Our Piece of the Pie showed up one day at Windham's Central Office selling  charter schools. It is obvious this is not true. Adamowski has been and is up to his eye balls creating a charter school, in Willimantic, specializing in reabilating overage under-credited students. 

A more detailed look at the proposed Path Academy  
Path Academy Application for Charter
Original story from Conn Mirror

So what is this path academy?

Only two new charter schools have opened in the state in the last six years, although 20 applications were filed during that period. Despite the long odds, Our Piece of the Pie's proposed Path Academy has been approved to provided educational opportunities to students from Windham and surrounding towns.

The Path Academy goal will focus on over-age, under-credited students  who have fallen behind in credit accumulation and have therefore fallen behind their original graduating cohort by failing to be promoted from grade-to-grade. 

Path Academy students will earn credits at an accelerated pace with mastery-based progression versus “time-in-seat” to achieve credits. With a maximum size of 200 students, the school will integrate technology, project-based learning and extended learning time opportunities to ensure mastery of skills and concepts aligned with the Common Core State Standards.

With Windham’s graduation rate of 62.8% (state average 81.8%) and English Language Learner (ELL) incidence at 26.7% (state average 5.5%), the Path Academy will enhance educational options for struggling students in Windham and the region.

The Path Academy will eventually serve 200 over-age, under-credited students, the inaugural semester (Fall 2014) the academy will host 100 students. The host district, Windham, will be guaranteed 75% of the seats while 19 sending districts will provided
students for the remaining 25%. Targeted sending districts are:
Andover, Ashford, Bozrah, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Franklin, Hampton, Hebron, Lebanon, Mansfield, Marlborough, Norwich, Scotland, Sprague, Tolland, Vernon and Willington.

Transportation

Windham Public Schools will be responsible for providing transportation for Windham students attending Path Academy. With the academy's unique schedule and calendar dedicated bus transportation will be necessary most afternoons and days when the high school is closed  Blended bus transportation with Windham High School in the mourning maybe feasible. It is Windham Schools responsibility to provide the necessary arrangements, so Path Academy can operate its extended day/year schedule without delay or restrictions. Sending towns are responsible for transporting their own students to Willimantic. The Path Academy will work with out of district towns to determine busing availability.

Governance 

The Path Academy will be run by a board of directors appointed by Our Piece of the Pie.This board will be made up of (up to 11) Windham-area community members, representing any combination of higher education, business, legal, faith-based, and social service communities. Additionally one each of the following: School teacher, a member of the Pathway staff, Path Academy Leader, Academy student, Parent, Chairman of WPS or his designee.

Marketing and Recruitment Strategies

Our Piece of the Pie founding members have already developed plans and lines of communication with the host district of Windham . Similar relationships will be formed with all sending districts to ensure high quality service provision for every student.

Path Academy’s marketing and recruitment strategies have been designed to target a diverse student body. The academic program has also been designed to maximize student success for students from diverse backgrounds. In particular, Path Academy has the capacity to attract, enroll, and retain students from the diverse populations of Eastern Ct.

Path Academy will engage in widespread marketing andr ecruitment. The academy will specifically target to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds and who have a:

• History of low academic performance. 
• Students who have been recommended by their home district
• Students receiving free or reduced lunches
• ELL students
• Behavioral and social difficulties
• Students with special needs
• Special education students

School Calendar & Hours

Students attending the Path Academy will spend 400 more hour, per year, at their desks then a Windham High student. Path Academy will operate on an extended year calendar. Students will attend school from the first week of August through the third week of June, with intermittent vacations. In addition, students will attend one Enrichment Week in June and another in July, to support their learning and combat the “summer drift” phenomenon.

Path Academy will operate on an extended day schedule, running from 8am to 4pm daily, with the exception of Wednesdays (students leave at 2pm, (teachers stay for professional development). A student’s week will generally consist of several major activities.

Discipline Policies

See pages 150 - 157 of  application to state education commissioner


Facilities

Bob Rath
Facebook photo

Our Piece of the Pie proposes to purchase the former Jillson Square Cinemas and convert the now unoccupied building into a charter school. Purchase price and renovations are estimated to cost $4 million. Our Piece of the Pie will own the building initially and lease it to The Path Academy. As the pie people are a 501(c)(3) they are not liable to pay taxes on the building or contents. The present owner,Suba Group LLC currently pays $13,751.50
on the vacant theater building

For the past two weeks windhamweek has heard rumors that Our Piece of the Pie is in second position to purchase the unoccupied theater.  Apparently a national retail chain 
has first dibs on the property. We contacted Bob Rath, president and CEO of Our Piece of the Pie. Mr Rath denied and refused to comment on the matter. Since that conversation OPP has looked at two locations on Willimantic's Main Street, one being the former Willimantic Trust Building now owned by ECSU.

So, What's it going to Cost?

$11,700 per student according to OPP's application for a state charter. The state will pick up $9,400 for each seat filled. Federal assistance and foundation grants may add more to the pie. Our Piece of the Pie claim that they don't know what the local contribution will be.
From OPP's information officer: "Funding revenue streams for students are complicated and come from many sources so it’s hard to give a simple answer. We won’t know any more information until we know the individual students."

Original Story; Windham to get Charter School
OPP Aplication to Commissioner of Education

  

http://windhamweek.blogspot.com/2013/06/windham-to-get-charter-school.html

Two organizations vying to open charter schools in Waterbury and Windham are expected to get final approval this week from the State Board of Education.

“I assume there will be action” Wednesday, State Board of Education Chairman Allan B. Taylor said during an interview.

The expected opening of these new charters defies the odds; only two new charter schools have opened in the state in the previous seven years, although 27 applications were filed.

And the expansion is not likely to end there. The state budget approvedby the General Assembly this week provides $10.2 million to open four new charter schools overseen by the state over the next two school years.

“Obviously this is an area I had a pretty big disagreement with the legislature on,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told reporters Monday, explaining how he was able to get all the money for new charter schools included in the final adopted budget.

With the two new schools, 450 additional charter school seats would be added to the 6,451 seats in charter schools already available throughout the state -- a 7 percent increase in enrollment.

But Connecticut is still behind the national trend; only 1 percent of public school students in Connecticut attend charter schools, reports the U.S. Department of Education. Nationwide, 3.6 percent of all public school students were enrolled in charters in the 2010-11 school year, the most recent year for which data are available.

It’s not for lack of demand: According to the most recent report by the State Department of Education, charter school enrollment would double if everyone on the waiting list got a seat.

Taylor said growth of charter schools has been restrained because of how they're funded, which is largely with state money.

“That almost inevitably creates limited growth,” Taylor said.

The first school of choice in Waterbury (kind of)

For the last four decades, Children’s Community School, a private, non-parochial school on the east side of Waterbury, has served about 140 students from low-income families. Tuition is $350 a year.