HARRISBURG, Pa., April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pennsylvania education and veterans officials today lauded the efforts of public and private schools across the commonwealth who are reaching out to discuss alternative placements for students of the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children, which is scheduled to close at the end of this school year.
The latest outreach comes from the nationally-renowned Milton Hershey School, which has organized two events over the next two weekends to introduce Scotland students and families to its academic offerings and picturesque campus in the rolling farmlands of Hershey.
“The response of public and private schools serves as an example to us all that Pennsylvanians pull together to help during difficult times,” said Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak. “To date, more than half of Scotland’s 270 students have begun making plans to enroll in new schools next year, and fully half of those already have enrolled in their new schools.”
The outreach efforts, which have included direct contact with Scotland students and families as well as extending application deadlines and the scheduling of open house events especially for Scotland families, will significantly ease the transition for students and families as Scotland School enters its final weeks of operation, the secretary said.
The Milton Hershey School has planned two events to reach out the Scotland students and families: an information session to be held from 10 a.m. to noon this Saturday, April 25, at the School District of Philadelphia offices, 444 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, followed by an open house the following weekend on the campus of the Milton Hershey School.
“This is exactly the type of outreach that is so important to ease the transition for Scotland students and families,” Zahorchak said. “We applaud Hershey’s efforts to offer this special consideration, and we encourage Scotland students and families to attend one or both sessions.”
Faced with a $2.3 billion state budget deficit that requires cuts across the board, and recognizing that the core functions of state government do not – and should not – include running a boarding school, Governor Edward G. Rendell concluded in February that Scotland School, located in Franklin County near Chambersburg, must be closed. The proposed closure will save state taxpayers $10.5 million annually.
Per-student, school-related, non-residential spending at Scotland School is $28,000 per year, more than any school district in the state. In addition, taxpayers fund approximately $17,000 per student for room and board, making the total per student cost at Scotland approximately $45,000 a year. Yet Scotland School was placed on the Department of Education’s “warning” list in 2008 for failure to meet state proficiency levels in reading and math. And Scotland School’s curriculum is significantly more limited than those of schools funded at lower levels around the Commonwealth.
Scotland School was founded in 1895 to educate the children of Civil War veterans; today, six of Scotland’s 270 students are the children of currently deployed military personnel.
While the decision to close has been difficult for the Scotland School community, it has also produced genuine opportunity for Scotland’s students. With the help of the Department of Education and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), which operates Scotland School, the School District of Philadelphia and other public and private schools across the state are stepping forward to lend a hand.
The Philadelphia School District – home to about 70 percent of Scotland’s students – is working diligently to provide opportunities for Scotland students to apply to its Special Admissions and charter schools, which offer a range of outstanding academic placement options. To date, the district has reached out to 168 Scotland students to discuss placement options for next year and beyond, and the majority of these students have made plans to enroll in a Philadelphia school next fall. Additionally, other schools throughout Pennsylvania have contacted the Department of Education to discuss accommodations for Scotland students who live in their communities.
No less important has been the effort to secure alternative job placements for the approximately 45 full-time Scotland School faculty. Fortunately, the demand for educators is high despite the ailing economy, and the Department of Education has been working with Scotland School and school districts in the Franklin County region to help these educators transition to new schools.
“The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is working hard to assure that we close out this year in a positive manner, even as we all plan for the closure of Scotland School,” said Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, Pennsylvania’s Adjutant General. “On behalf of the DMVA, I appreciate the solid work that is being done to help our valued Scotland families.”
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