In my previous post I noted that the media (the New York Times) is working overtime to sell the public on the notion that everything is just peachy in Lancaster with the decades-old refugee program there. Then we see stories like this one that indicate at least some segments of the community are not thrilled at all—namely the school system.
BTW, see my Ten Things your town needs to know when ‘welcoming’ refugees and see that the first great impact on your community will most likely be in the school system.
Look how much this lawsuit filed by the ACLU is costing Lancaster taxpayers! If your town becomes a new ‘welcoming’ site, be prepared for unanticipated costs like these!
From Keystone Crossroads (hat tip: Joanne):
About 17,000 of the refugees arriving each year in the U.S. are children, yet their education — in particular, how public schools might accommodate them — plays a surprisingly minor role in placing families.
Federal law says public schools have to adjust to meet any number of students’ varying needs, including overcoming language barriers.
But that doesn’t always happen.
A few lawsuits have been filed in recent years on behalf of student refugees suffering the consequences of systematic shortcomings.
Schools have settled out of court in most cases.
Not Lancaster.
[….]
Lawyers for the Pennsylvania ACLU and Philadelphia-based Education Law Center sued the School District of Lancaster last summer.
The lawsuit claims that, despite the city’s robust tradition of resettlement, several teenage refugees waited months to enroll in public school. Ultimately, they were denied outright or diverted to magnet school Phoenix Academy, which has less support for nonnative English speakers than mainstream McCaskey High School.
[….]
In the meantime, a judicial panel in Philadelphia is considering Lancaster’s appeal. (See that story here)
[….]
Whether the district’s on the hook for any expenses depends on how the case turns out.
Defense attorneys’ bills are at about $150,000 so far, according to the district’s business administrator Matthew Przywara. The ACLU’s costs are approaching $2 million.
But Lancaster’s insurer has indicated it won’t pay out more than $100,000 for this lawsuit, district officials say.
There is more, continue reading here.
If the ACLU prevails be forewarned for refugee resettlement to your town to become even more expensive!
Click here for more on Lancaster, PA. Someone should do a study of the negative impact on this longtime resettlement site.