Thanks Geezer for posting the really helpful article about the visa stuff.
Well despite the negative rumors, I decided to take the job since they keep saying they will do all the applications with the Chinese government that I need in order to apply for a Z visa before I go (and since they did send me a contract to look at). I guess I'll report back next year if people want to know how it went.

They say they will go through the process to get a work visa and pay for it; any thoughts on how I'd go about checking whether that is true?

Is there anyone here who has had experience teaching at Summit Foreign Language School? I'm in the U.S. and I've been looking at jobs in Kunming. I'm wondering if there is anyone who has taught English at this school who would care to comment. There are a couple other threads on here about this school but no comments from anyone who has actually worked there, so I thought I'd just ask.