New worries for Philly's Khepera Charter School
Khepera Charter School, whose finances were so shaky that it laid off several staffers in March, has been taken to court by its landlord for not paying its May rent. Administrators said the North Philadelphia school's lawyers were working to resolve the issue.
Could the academic year end early for 450 students who attend a North Philadelphia K-8 charter school?
Khepera Charter School, whose finances were so shaky that it laid off several staffers in March, has been taken to court by its landlord for not paying its May rent.
The owner of the building that the school leases at 926 Sedgley Ave. has demanded the school vacate the property and pay more than $87,346 in past-due rent and fees.
Common Pleas Court has not acted on the May 25 filing.
Khepera's administration said in a memo to staff on Thursday that the school's attorneys were working with the landlord to resolve the issue.
Lee Whack, a spokesman for the Philadelphia School District, said the district was "actively monitoring the situation at Khepera Charter School." The Alliance for Charter School Employees, the union that represents 16 staffers at Khepera, said the principal had told the building's representative that the school might be changing its location again but provided no more details.
Dan Dueholm, a staff representative with the alliance, said the union learned of the court filing Thursday. The alliance is an affiliate of America Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania.
In the court filing, the landlord said Khepera had not responded to a certified letter sent May 17 informing the school that it was in violation of the lease that began July 1, 2014. The landlord ordered the charter to pay the costs in five days or vacate the building.
The landlord, 926 Sedgley Avenue LLC, said that Khepera owed $46,000 in rent for May, as well as fees and taxes for the period between Dec. 1 and May 31.
In addition to laying off several staffers in March, Dueholm said Khepera abruptly ended direct-deposit paychecks for its employees in early May and is now paying them with paper checks.
The memo from Khepera's administration said the charter school was continuing to work on improving its financial standing.
"Finally, we want to make it abundantly clear that Khepera will continue to educate our children, and we fully anticipate providing our services over the next two years of our charter," the memo said. Khepera's five-year operating agreement with the Philadelphia School Reform Commission is in effect until June 30, 2019.
Since 2014, Khepera has rented the second and third floors of the building. At one time, the facility housed Truebright Science Academy. Truebright later moved to Olney and closed in the summer of 2015.