Lawyer for Muhlenberg administrators questions charter school applicant about budget, other issues

Attorney for school district sought answers on budget, facilities, more

An attorney for the Muhlenberg School District administrators tore through a plan to start a charter school, questioning the proposed school's finances, facilities and religious affiliations.

In a hearing Wednesday before the school board, Richard L. Guida questioned whether the break-even budget planned for the Dr. Theodore Villafana School of Scientific Discoveries would put the organization in a position to handle unplanned school expenses.

"This board has to be assured that you're prepared to face anything that's likely in the operation of a school," he told Wanda Marrero of Rend Enterprises, a Philadelphia-area group pitching twin, science-focused schools in Muhlenberg and Reading.

Wednesday's session on the Muhlenberg plan was the second installment of the hearing, which began last month. The third and likely final session is scheduled for next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the high school.

The proposed school containing kindergarten through 12th grade would start with 350 students and 30 teachers in a former school, now a church, at 3301 Stoudt's Ferry Bridge Road.

The Muhlenberg board must decide whether to approve the charter school application by mid-February. If the board rejects it, Rend can appeal to the state.

Guida asked Marrero how the school would pay for expenses that are bound to come up but are not listed in the proposed budget.

The plan includes a legal retainer but nothing for paying out costs for lawsuits, Guida said. It also doesn't take into account the cost of sending students to outside placements. The plan predicts 45 special-education students but budgets one special education teacher and an aide.

"If your budget zeros out the first year, how are you going to be able to afford an extra teacher if you need one?" Guida asked.

Marrero said she has worked out an updated budget and has a flexible fund for education expenses. For large, unexpected costs, the school would seek donations and grants.

Guida also questioned the lack of a written lease with the church, how building updates would be paid for and the assumption the plan would receive necessary township zoning variances.

He said state law prohibits public charter schools from having a religious affiliation or showing any religious symbols, which means any symbols associated with the church would have to be removed.

He also asked whether Rend, which describes itself online as "faith centered organization," would separate that message from the school curriculum. While the two schools would be separate from Rend, each would pay the group $643,000 a year for management.

Marrero said that while Rend is a Christian organization, the charter schools would not have a religious affiliation.

"When it comes to the charter schools, we're a professional organization and we understand the separation between church and state," she said. "There's no mixing."

Contact Liam Migdail-Smith: 610-371-5022 or

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