Thomas J. Pappas School

The Thomas J. Pappas Schools are a series of related alternative schools located in the Phoenix, Arizona area. A part of the Maricopa County Regional School District, the Thomas J. Pappas schools provide primary and secondary education to homeless children in the area. It is named for Thomas J. Pappas, a prominent Phoenix businessman known for his strong support of homeless causes, who passed away in 1989. The schools closed in 2008 following several years of controversy and legal issues surrounding the schools' administrator, Sandra Dowling, the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools.

History

The early beginnings of the school can be traced to a volunteer effort by Phoenix firefighters in 1989 to provide tutoring classes to local homeless children. Originally held in a shelter and later moved to a hotel, the first classes were attended by only 8 students. [ [http://www.pappaskids.org/faq.html The Maricopa County Schoolhouse Foundation "Pappas Kids" ] ]

In an effort to determine whether the small effort could be expanded into an official program, city officials contacted Sandra Dowling. Anticipating the potential growth of the program, Dowling founded the "'Thomas J. Pappas School" in 1990 and funds were allocated for the development of an official curriculum and school facilities. A former car dealership was purchased and renovated, becoming the first school for the homeless children in Phoenix.

In response to growing attendance a new school was constructed in 1997 [ [http://phoenix.gov/ARTS/pridepts.html Phoenix Points Of Pride ] ] and the existing building was converted to a middle school. The concept was further expanded by the founding of the Tempe Thomas J. Pappas Elementary School in nearby Tempe in 2001. While originally housed in a strip mall, the satellite school moved in to a new facility constructed in 2004.

The original school is listed as a Phoenix Point of Pride.

chools

The Maricopa County Regional School District currently operates 3 Pappas schools for homeless students:

*Phoenix Pappas Regional Elementary School (Grades K-5)
*Phoenix Thomas J. Pappas Regional Middle School (Grades 6-12)
*Tempe Thomas J. Pappas Regional Elementary School (Grades K-6)

The Pappas schools have a fleet of 16 buses and service homeless families throughout the region.

Funding Issues

As alternative schools that do not operate under established geographical school districts, the Thomas J. Pappas schools do not enjoy funding from a traditional school tax district. The Maricopa County Schoolhouse Foundation was established as a charitable foundation to organize fundraising activities to support the schools.

Severe financial issues created concern as to the future of the Pappas schools. In 2006 an investigation into certain accounting practices called in to question a number of officials related to the school. [cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0127dowling27.html|title=Financial probe of superintendent criticized as politics|author=Pat Flannery|publisher=The Arizona Republic|date=2006-01-27 |accessdate=2007-03-24] The investigation resulted in the ouster of the district's leadership, creating concerns as to the future of the schools. Funding concerns forced teachers to work without pay for some time, and a plan to absorb the schools into existing districts created concern that the schools were facing closure. [cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1201pappas1201.html|title=Pappas teachers to get paid|author=Jahna Berry|publisher=The Arizona Republic|date=2006-12-01|accessdate=2007-03-24] Judicial intervention and an outpouring of local charity [cite news |first= Shea |last=Drefs |coauthors= |title=Chaparral junior is gathering 1,000 books for Pappas schools |url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0303nebookdrive0303.html |work= |publisher=The Arizona Republic |date=2007-03-03|accessdate=2007-03-24 ] [cite news |first= Geri |last= Koeppel |coauthors= |title= Boy launches venture to aid homeless kids|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0905phxzoo0905.html |work= |publisher=The Arizona Republic |date=2006-09-05 |accessdate=2007-03-24 ] secured the schools for a brief time.

Pending closure

Questions regarding the school's financial stability continued well into 2007. In spite of financial help from outside sources the school continued to operate at a deficit, and as of October had racked up a debt of an estimated $2.9 million. Attempts to solve the school's financial woes did not succeed, and on October 18, 2007, a settlement was approved that would require the closure of all 3 Pappas schools by June 30, 2008. [cite news|first=Yvonne|last=Wingett|coathors=Michael Kiefer|title=All 3 Pappas schools for homeless to close|url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1018pappasclosing1019.html|publisher=The Arizona Republic|date=2007-10-18|accessdate=2007-10-18]

Students attending Pappas schools are expected to register at more traditional schools following the closure date. Attorneys for Dowling, who had been excluded from the settlement, are expected to appeal the decision.

Dowling has decided not to run for re-election as county schools superintendent in the wake of the Pappas Schools controversy and her ongoing related legal issues. [cite news|first=Michael|last=Kiefer|coathors=Meghan Moravcik|title=Beleagured schools superintendent won't run again|url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/06/20080606dowling0607.html|publisher=The Arizona Republic|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-07-31]

External links

* [http://www.tjpappasschool.org/ Official website]

References