Turn District Over to Charter School, Resident Says

At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Neshaminy School District taxpayer Charles Alfonso proposed turning all of the district’s schools over to MaST Charter School.

Alfonso said the district's students are not getting a proper education and many have trouble because of “undereducation.”

The Langhorne resident and frequent school board attendee offered his “heartfelt apology to Neshaminy graduates who struggled through college due to their education.”

He cited the MaST Charter School’s praised teaching methods and modern technology which have helped make the school one of the top charter programs in the state.

In his message to the board during public comment, Alfonso firmly said that he believes 80 percent of the district’s teaching staff would not be able to keep up with MaST’s advanced curriculum.

The outspoken Neshaminy resident said he knows his idea is “out of the box.” He added that it is worth talking about since the district has been in a contract dispute with the teacher’s union for five years.

After the meeting, Alfonso and resident Ed McConnell recounted stories of Neshaminy graduates who were behind in college due to the education they received during their time in the district.

In 2011, MaST boasted at 100 percent graduation rate, while Neshaminy said only 94 percent of its high school seniors graduated with a diploma.

MaST is considering building a charter school in the boundaries of the Neshaminy School District. In accordance with state law, Neshaminy must pay charter schools for educating students who attend.

Tell us: What are your feelings on Charles Alfonso's idea?

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