As I wake to four separate emails with the court order attached, I imagine there’s a few folks who want my opinion on what sparked Judge Dozor to appoint Nafis Nichols as the school Receiver.
I don’t write much about school district stuff because I can never understand what goes on based on what I see, hear and read, and today is no exception.
Below, I’ll try my best to interpret what the actual court order appointing an Interim Receiver for the Chester-Upland School District is trying to say by highlighting a few passages.
In anticipation of the vacancy of the position of a Receiver and to have a smooth and uninterrupted Receivership, this Court received a Petition for Appointment of Permanent Receiver of Chester Upland School District or, In the Alternative, an Interim Receiver filed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education on July 27, 2021…and scheduled and held a Hearing on this Petition on August 5, 2021.
Yesterday, Friday the 13th of August, is when the judge made his decision based on what transpired at the hearing on August 5.
There seemed to be two candidates they were considering for the job. The Pennsylvania Department of Education recommended Michael Pladus, Ed.D, (“Dr. Pladus’’). He’s a veteran educator who formerly led the Interboro School District for 9-years, the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District and served 10-years as superintendent in the Upper Dublin School District. In 1999 he won the MetLife/National Association of Secondary School Principals National Principal of the Year Award. I believe he is currently working with or for Chester-Upland in the recovery capacity.
None of Pladus’ accomplishments as an educator was mentioned in the court order, but here’s what the judge wrote about Nichols…
Nafis J. Nichols who offered a verbal Petition for consideration as Receiver and was supported by Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, Senator John I. Kane, Friends of Chester Community Charter, Chester Charter School for the Arts as well as the Chester Community Charter School.
Nafis J. Nichols, is a graduate of Chester High School and has been a resident of the City, provides municipal and government experience and expertise, including valuable experience with government, financial and budget requirements, management, accounting, human resources and other key functions of Receivership and the Districts return to financial stability.
Candidate Nichols meets the Statutory requirements for appointment and provides experiences, and a spectrum of talents and traits that may assist with the success of receivership and financial recovery, as well as the financial and educational tasks ahead for the District and all students, staff, teachers and parents.
Candidate Nichols’ public and private sector experiences identifies strengths in management, book keeping, human resources, public relations, grant applications, contract negotiations, collective bargaining agreements and Act 47 Recovery (Borough of Colwyn) Plan(s), and third-party vendors for municipal financial roles.
In my opinion, Pladus is leaps and bounds more qualified for this position based on his educational background and experience. He has a PhD in education versus Nichols’ high school diploma and he spent an entire career leading school districts in various leadership capacities (for what that’s worth).
The Chester-Upland School Community provides unique community dynamics. The Community is very much engaged, informed, sincere and committed to recovery and improving educational opportunities for their students. Community support for recovery and pursuing educational excellence is crucial for the success of Receivership.
I’m not sure what ‘Community’ the judge is speaking of. If it’s the community of parents, I’m not sure they are very much engaged, informed, sincere and committed to recovery based on their lack of understanding of what’s going on in the district and their lack of participation at school board meetings, court hearings, and PTA activities. Chester’s parents want a safe, clean, learning environment for their children and are trusting that the adults running the schools are doing the right thing.
Community support for the Receiver’s leadership, work product and initiatives are fundamentally and practically important. Candidate Nichols exhibits strengths of pursuing communication, collaboration and coalition.
I’m not sure what history of evidence the judge is basing Nichols strengths of pursuing communication, collaboration and coalition. We’ve known him as the Chief Financial Officer of the City of Chester for the past 4-ish years and there hasn’t been much public facing communication, collaboration and coalition. In fact, with the city right in the midst of receivership, is this a good time for the Chief Financial Officer to be taking another job? Isn’t he a key guy working with the City’s Receiver? Won’t his absence leave a huge hole in trying to fix the city’s finances? Or, is he that expendable?
Here’s the terms to which the judge appointed Nichols…
It is further ORDERED and DECREED that Nafis J. Nichols is appointed to serve as the Interim Receiver for the Chester Upland School District for a term to begin on September 1, 2021.
The balance of the receivership term ends on June 3, 2022, and the term of Financial Recovery is winding down, this Appointment to serve this transitional period as an Interim Receivership ends June 3, 2022, or sooner if the Financial Recovery status ends, or later by further Order of Court.
If there is truly a community that is very much engaged, informed, sincere and committed to recovery and improving educational opportunities for students, I’m sure we’ll be hearing from them soon.
Chester Matters Blog 
Stefan, You are reporting on the actions of a community of people who are flexing their institutional muscles for all to see. It is clear that the Judicial system of Delaware County is responsive to a community of control that resents having to follow the law regarding its possessions and chooses to thwart the intent of the law by doing irrational things in a legal manner. These decisions defy common sense and display disrespect for the well-being of people subject to the decisions of the governing institution’s authorities.
I am surprised that Judge Dozor is willing to make such a choice and be held responsible for the decision he’s made. He chose to appoint a person who “verbally” petitioned the court over a person recommended by the state’s educational establishment. The Judge chose a person with no history of education, training, or experience in matters central to the success of the situation. Who is this Judge Dozor?
Em
On Sat, Aug 14, 2021 at 12:56 PM Chester Matters Blog wrote:
> SERoots posted: ” As I wake to four separate emails with the court order > attached, I imagine there’s a few folks who want my opinion on what sparked > Judge Dozor to appoint Nafis Nichols as the school Receiver. I don’t write > much about school district stuff because I c” >
Please correct me if I am wrong in stating that Nafis Nicholos is the son of a former Judge. This goes back to the THREE WISE MONKEYS. HEAR NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL, and SPEAK NO EVIL.
Don’t think so. But I don’t know
You are incorrect. He is not the son of a judge.
Thanks for the update. I appreciate your time for correcting me.
No he is not the son of Judge Nathaniel Nichols
Thanks Karla. for the correction. As old folks would often say, Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see, I was thinking about this..For if he was…he would have completed college. So much for the RUMOR MILL. My sincere apology to the readers.
I am looking at the judge as well. I was in the court 2 years ago. Emery, I can tell you that there are MANY in the community who will despair, and will have NO CLUE what to do next. As one who moved in here (Ed and I in 1976) with hopes of being helpful to change, IT IS HARD when the ones who were in power liked what was there, and those now in power do as was done to them. This shows that the JUDGE is CLUELESS in thinking he knows what Chester wants. And is INCOMPETENT choosing a recent grad of Harcum over an experienced educator. I’m looking for others ready to ACT to question the judge.
end
(This comment is from Joan who had trouble leaving the comment herself and sent it to my via email for me to post on her behalf)
I served as a school director with Dr Pladus and I can positively confirm that he is eminently qualified to bring a balanced, professional, and highly experienced perspective to the job. I’m saddened to see that a high quality leader like him was overlooked by the judge and pseudo leaders of Chester. Chester loses in this selection, I assure everyone.
Well here it is😪CRONYISM at it FINEST! In this day and time people have a tendency to show display who they like and dislike. This isn’t to say that Judge Dozer dislikes the other candidate who is more than QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION; however Nafis Nicholos is the son of a Court of Commons Pleas Judge; whom Judge Dozer had a wonderful working relationship with throughout his years as a Judge.
For now the Judge has also implemented a “CAVEAT “ as a condition of his Court Order. In doing so there’s some WIGGLE ROOM for those folks who are willing and able to CHALLENGE JUDGE DOZER’S recommendation.
GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY IN ALL THAT WE DO AND DON’T DO IN THIS LIFE.
He is not the Judge son
This is a travesty of justice and a power move by the mayor and the establishment. There is a a lot tentacles attached to this move which explains why the judge ruled in this way. Don’t be surprised if the Chester Charter led by David Clark gets their claws on the last remaining schools within the district. This is a very dark day in the history of Chester educational system.
That’s exactly what is going to happen🤦🏽♀️
How do a Judge reject a person who has a PhD, 30 years of educational leadership, and came highly recommended by The Department of Education for a person with NO degree at ALL and no school district experience? Please make it make sense…..
Remember this is a Delco court judge, anything is po$$ible.
Thank you for keeping the community informed councilman elect! It is very strange that the school district did not put out a press release regarding this announcement. Nafis is popular in the community, but right now our city needs help, not another popularity contest. When he was the CFO for Chester what did he accomplish? Nafis has years, of experience, but I strongly Dr. Pladus would have been a better pick to help lead the district.
If this holds up watch our district will go Charter before June 2022
I am so not a conspiracy theorist nor do I generally believe the rumor mill, but in this case, I have to believe the rumors that there is a move underfoot to do away with the school district as we know it. This move right here, to appoint an inexperienced person as opposed to a highly educated, highly experienced, and highly accomplished educational professional and leader leads me to believe there are those who intend for the district to fail. Let us pray for the children.
We must stay in PRAYER each and every day. This is totally ridiculous. Lord hear our prayers.
Has he done any interviews with anyone, why are the elected officials in this city allowed to not answer questions from the public or media other than council or board meetings where they try run the show.