"Critics assail director of L.A. charter." Los Angeles Times (CA), 9/25/2007
A Highland Park charter school is facing allegations of financial impropriety, gross mismanagement and academic shortcomings from a group of former employees and parents who formerly enrolled their children at the school…The story of an embattled charter school facing the school board and the court of public opinion has emerged several times in the last year. Nearly all such schools have survived, whether the issue was low test scores, admission practices, questionable accounting or an unorthodox curriculum. Charters are independently run schools that are free from some regulations that govern traditional schools.
Most of Academia Avance's critics are closely associated with the school's founding. They include a former principal, former teachers, former office workers and parents.They describe a poorly organized school that churned through staff and a director who was never short on plans to increase revenue but was perpetually short on resources for students."It was an amazing opportunity for an inner-city area and an incredible idea, but it was run very poorly," said former English teacher Tiffany Miller. "We had no school supplies. There was no working air-conditioning or heating. There were broken windows. Very little supervision."…Of the school's five initial teachers, Miller and one other finished the year before quitting, she said. Much of the school year involved a procession of substitutes and short-term hires. The substitutes allegedly included the school's founder and director, Ricardo Mireles, office staff and parent volunteers…
8 comments:
As if this wasn't enough scandal to shut them down, Ricardo Mireles, the well heeled Executive Director of Academia Avance, calls for unelected boards of privatized charter schools to begin gambling with our hard earned tax dollars in cockamamy schemes smacking of the exotic mortgage derivatives market that crashed the economy.
Charter Voucher Charlatans Now Advocating AIG Style Derivatives
As if this wasn't enough scandal to shut them down, Ricardo Mireles, the well heeled Executive Director of Academia Avance, calls for unelected boards of privatized charter schools to begin gambling with our hard earned tax dollars in cockamamy schemes smacking of the exotic mortgage derivatives market that crashed the economy.
Charter Voucher Charlatans Now Advocating AIG Style Derivatives
welcome to the future,here we are in 2011 , and just recntle found out that mr. mreles and company of thieves,run out money at the beginning of the year and avnce kids are not getting breakfast or lunch ,because they spent the money like there was not tomorrow,they fired two bus drivers and owed the food company 85k... it there anything we can do to get rid of these thieves?
I was once a former student at Academia Avance. My middle school years were well! yes no air conditioner of heater was provided but the good education was. I graduated middle school and now a sophmore at Franklin High School. The school may not be so highy in shape but the kids have fun interacting with eachother and get their education. All seniors thi year graduated on stage and All got accpeted at a college.
This school sucks people its ugly and horrilbe
My son is in college already, thanks to Avance. My other son--he’s in ninth grade and doing good. Sara, she is in sixth grade and struggling but we’re getting lots of help from the teachers. I get a lot of help from all the staff.
My son is in college already, thanks to Avance. My other son--he’s in ninth grade and doing good. Sara, she is in sixth grade and struggling but we’re getting lots of help from the teachers. I get a lot of help from all the staff.
Oh come on!
"Looking horrible? No air-conditioning? Not getting lunch? " What kind of criteria is that?
What is the purpose of education in this part of Los Angeles? To sit around in air-conditioned comfort and eat? NO. That is the purpose of a shopping mall. This is the critical institution of a school.
The objective is to learn to become productive members of a complex society and - very important in this population - to receive mentoring and guidance to higher education.
In that field. Academia Avance outperforms everyone nearby. Look at the numbers and statistics!
What, may I ask, is the measure of quality education? It's in the RESULTS! Take a careful look at the academic performance and the rate of acceptance to colleges of students coming out of this school. You will see a huge success, and an opportunity that didn't exist in that part of Los Angeles before.
As for "well-heeled" executive director? That is a complete manufactured fantasy. Go and meet the guy. You will see nothing of the accusations in this post.
If it's a scandal you're looking for. You won't find it here. Look at the results.
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