PA Gov. Wolf Fires Charter School Appeals Board. Every. Single. Member.

Earlier this month, Governor Wolf removed all of the long past due members of the PA Charter Appeals Board, putting pressure on Senate Republicans to be forced to vote on his new nominees as there are over 9 new cases waiting to be heard. The new nominees include:

• Jodi Schwartz, a school board member from the Central Bucks School District

• Shanna Danielson, a teacher in the East Pennsboro School District in Cumberland County and former state senate candidate

• Stacey Marten, a teacher in the Hempfield School District in Lancaster County

• Ghadah Makoshi, a business owner and former candidate for Pittsburgh’s school board

• Nathan Barrett, superintendent of the Hanover Area School District in Luzerne County

*The members of the CAB are appointed by the governor and approved by the state senate. According to Pennsylvania charter school law, members are supposed to serve four-year terms “or  until a successor is appointed and qualified.” But since becoming governor in 2015, Wolf hasn’t nominated anyone to the board. As a result, members appointed by his Republican predecessor, Gov. Tom Corbett, have continued to serve long after their terms expired.

Then, on April 23, Wolf sent terse letters to the remaining members of the CAB.

“Your service on the State Charter School Appeal Board is concluded as of today,” the letters read.

This is the first step forward in establishing a new board that is not allied with the charter school movement.

Here are 2 articles to read more on this developing story:

*Gov. Wolf squares off with GOP by firing charter school appeals board members

PA Gov. Wolf Fires Charter School Appeals Board. Every. Single. Member.