Staff Editorial: Dump Edison Schools

Twenty Philadelphia schools are entering their second semester under the guidance of Edison Schools, Inc., the beleaguered for-profit company that the state of Pennsylvania brought in to provide a fix for the decade-old problem of public education. And as newly minted Gov. Ed Rendell settles into his Harrisburg office, it is crucial that he doesn't lose sight of the problems facing public schools in his hometown. Edison was granted management rights to these schools by the School Reform Commission -- and largely against the wishes of Mayor John Street. Last April, both of Street's appointments to the commission voted against privatizing 42 of the city's ailing schools. Not surprisingly, former Gov. Mark Schweiker's three appointments disagreed and paved the way for at least a partial Edison takeover. Just two months later, Edison received $40 million in loans to finance its takeover of city schools. It was certainly an ominous sign that the state placed a school district deeply in debt into the hands of a private company with financial problems of its own. It is too early to evaluate whether the privatization of the school district has been successful. It is far too late, however, for Edison to be stuck in deep financial waters if the company is to ever have an impact on these indebted schools. Edison's stock closed yesterday on the Nasdaq trading at less than $1.50 per share. Since the company finalized its loans in June, a share of Edison stock has cost less than a six-pack of Coke. Now that Schweiker is gone, his appointees to the commission are obstacles in the way of revitalization. If Edison shows no signs of financial improvement by the end of this school year, the burden falls on Rendell to send the company packing. He must do whatever it takes to rid the system of this debt-ridden company, even if it means cleaning house on the commission. Edison Schools, Inc., is not and has never been the answer for Philadelphia schools. Rendell knows this, and if things don't change quickly, he must take action.

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