Edison founder sees bright future in Clark County

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 11:16 a.m.

Calling the relationship between his embattled company and the Clark County School District a "model partnership," Edison Schools Inc. founder Chris Whittle said Thursday he expects his company to be a presence in the region for years to come.

"There is always a feeling that we're working together to get this right," said Whittle, whose company has been battered in other states and in the stock market this year. "As I look at all our different partnerships across the country, particularly major districts, I'd put (Clark County) very high in terms of how it's going."

Now in the second of a five-year contract with the school district, Edison manages six elementary schools -- Crestwood, Lincoln, Lynch, Cahlan, Ronnow and Park -- as well as West Middle School.

In the classroom, critics say Edison's "cookie cutter" approach to education leaves some children behind. But supporters praise the longer school day, emphasis on teamwork and continuous teacher training.

Despite praise from some Clark County educators, Edison has faced a tough year at the national level. The company has been under fire for its curriculum, its management and its bookkeeping.

In the last year the company has lost contracts in seven states. The U.S. Education Department has launched an inquiry into the dealings surrounding Edison's contract to manage 20 schools in Philadelphia.

Edison was rebuked by the Securities and Exchange Commission in May for failing to complete a required audit on time, and a New York law firm has filed a class action suit against Edison, claiming the company has misrepresented its earnings.

After its stock plummeted below a dollar in June, Edison was warned by the Nasdaq Stock Market that it faced delisting if the price did not rise. Since last month the price of Edison's shares has been slowly climbing, closing at $1.45 Thursday. This morning rose to as high as $1.94 and was trading at by midmorning at $1.79.

In an interview with the Sun on Thursday, Whittle said Edison's bottom line is healthy, and that stock prices are not the sum total of either a company's worth or its potential. The company expects to show its first profit this summer, he said.

"We're in excellent shape," Whittle said.

Many of Edison's critics focus as much on Whittle as on the company's educational approach. Whittle, who also founded the controversial Channel One classroom cable television service, said he does his best to ignore the personal attacks and try and refocus the discussion toward the facts.

"If you're going to be in the world of public schools, working with districts across the country to try and help them change their schools, critics come with the territory," Whittle said. "But at the end of the day when you can look back and see that you're making a positive change, you know it will all work out."

Edison's Clark County principals insist the company's fiscal woes elsewhere have no bearing on their schools. Clark County School District officials note if Edison were to go under, the schools would simply revert to district control.

Teachers would continue to be paid, and the schools would keep the computers, fixtures and other improvements brought in by Edison, said Walt Rulffes, deputy superintendent of operations for the district.

While the school district officials have downplayed Edison's impact -- and the potential fallout if the company fails -- Whittle said he knows the company is having an effect on how some of Clark County's children are learning.

"These schools are all off to a very strong start," Whittle said. "I'm proud of what we're seeing in terms of the scholarship and the morale. As the data begins to role in, I think it will show."

Edison administrators say monthly reviews show Clark County students are meeting the benchmarks set for them. But district officials may be more interested in how Edison students performed on last month's statewide basic skills test. The results of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, which has replaced the TerraNova test, are expected in mid-December.

Agustin Orci, deputy superintendent of instruction for the school district, said Edison's results will be compared to Clark County schools with similar demographics.

So far, the data for student achievement at Edison schools have been mixed. Results from district-wide tests given last spring showed second graders at Edison schools slipped in their reading skills while fourth graders improved. Math scores for second graders changed little, but fourth graders saw their grades dip slightly.

At the same time, Edison principals say they've seen "tremendous" changes in their students, improvements that may not necessarily be captured in a test.

"I see the difference every day in our students, our teachers, parents, the whole school community," said Doug Wilson, Ronnow Elementary School principal. "I had a mother in here for a conference last week and she broke down crying, because her child is finally reading."

Orci, who regularly visits the district's classrooms, said he's seen improvements at the Edison campuses.

"We're seeing some really good instruction, better discipline and just a very positive learning environment overall," said Orci, who visited Ronnow Thursday. "I just hope when we get the first batch of tests back we're able to get some good comparative data."

Each of Edison's 150 schools nationwide follow the same core curriculum and rigid schedule of daily instruction. The students also attend daily reading classes based on skill level, rather than age. Teachers are given time each day to work on lesson plans. A substitute teacher is part of the regular faculty, filling in for staff members while they take part in professional development.

Much of Edison's core curriculum mirrors lessons taught at other Clark County schools, Orci said. The "extras" -- including more time for teacher preparation, arts classes and dedicated reading sessions -- are elements the district would be "thrilled" to offer to all its students, he said.

"We could probably do it as good, or almost as good, as Edison, but we couldn't do it on the money we have," Orci said.

Parental approval ratings for the Clark County schools continue to be high, Edison officials have reported. Additionally, the schools boast more than 95 percent participation in the four yearly parent-teacher conferences.

There have been few complaints registered by Edison teachers to the Clark County Education Association, said Mary Ella Holloway, president of the district's teachers' union. Additionally, turnover at Edison schools hasn't been significantly higher than the district average.

The union is closely watching Edison's performance, Holloway said.

Edison schools get the same per-pupil funding as the rest of the district, although school spending is augmented by private donations. Those are funds other campuses cannot match, Holloway said.

"If the Edison does well, it's because they have more money to spend," Holloway said. "Success for Edison may mean something for the rest of Clark County's students, if it finally sends a message to lawmakers that we need to fund education appropriately."