Stiffed staffers may sue school district

A GROUP OF former staffers of the shuttered Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School is "contemplating" a class-action lawsuit against the district, the group's leader said yesterday.

The 18 former staffers say they are owed paychecks for all of December, as well as vacation and sick pay. They discussed the claims with school district officials yesterday.

"They are also responsible for what is taking place as well, because the Charter School Office had oversight of this particular school," said Sultan Ashley, who was the school's community relations and partnership development director. He brought the 18 ex-employees to the Charter School Office and the Inspector General's Office.

"We feel that they failed us again," said Ashley, who was dismissed in December along with other Palmer staff when the school closed.

The school district disagrees.

"The district has a very limited ability to oversee charter schools under state law. They are their own entity, they are their own school district," said Fernando Gallard, spokesman for the district.

"That is done on purpose, and it's part of the law here in . . . Pennsylvania."

Ashley said former staffers also planned to reach out to the District Attorney's Office and the state Attorney General's Office.

Other allegations against Palmer officials involve a health plan that was canceled retroactive to Nov. 15; and student-loan payments and city, state and federal taxes and pension-fund payments that haven't been paid.

Gallard said the district would look into the group's allegations. He said the School Reform Commission could vote on revocation of Palmer's charter as soon as Thursday.

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