“Berean staff air issues at meeting.” The Sierra Vista Herald (AZ) 02 Jun 2011
SIERRA VISTA — After cutting his staff’s pay with little notice in May, Berean Academy Director Jim Fogarty was accused of mismanaging funds, violating the school’s by-laws, using improper accounting procedures and violating teacher contracts during a special board meeting Thursday night...
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“Berean board delays decision on staff grievance.” The Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review (AZ) 30 Jun 2011
SIERRA VISTA — After waiting almost a month for a response to allegations against school director Jim Fogarty, the Berean Academy staff learned on Thursday that they will have to wait a while longer...
A complaint was filed with the state charter school board following the last meeting on June 2 when staff members accused Fogarty of mismanaging funds, violating the school’s by-laws, using improper accounting procedures and violating teacher contracts. Staff members were reacting to a sudden 30 percent reduction to their last three paychecks and what they called an “absurdly inadequate” response to a grievance they filed with Fogarty.
In addition to the June 2 meeting minutes, the state board requested all the materials provided to the board regarding the contents of the Herald/Review article that ran the next day. The issue of apparent concern to the person who filed the complaint was sixth-grade teacher Jennifer Schnupp’s statement that Fogarty admitted to using school funds for a private corporation — Berean Academy Pre-school — which operated at a loss.
Fogarty’s response to the state board includes articles of incorporation that show the preschool was formed as a non-profit subsidiary of the corporation.
“Understandably several of the staff were upset when I talked with them about the pay cuts. Unfortunately several were too angry to hear anything I said,” Fogarty stated, in a response to the state board of charter schools. “I did NOT say ‘I used Berean Academy funds for the private corporation Berean Academy Preschool.’ There is no reason for me to mis-state the truth to my own detriment.”...
On Thursday, 28 days after the June 2 meeting, the staff still received no substantive response from the board regarding any of their numerous concerns and proposed solutions. After having their pay cut with three days notice and receiving little feedback from the board, the staff’s discontent was evident during Call to the Public at the meeting...
“It’s really hard to believe that nobody on that board had any idea this was coming down because that screams incompetence. Somebody had to know and yet we weren’t given a chance to prepare for it,” [school employee Donna] Hunt said. “If the employees of Berean had behaved in this manner, they would have been fired immediately … Instead of acting irresponsibly we have poured our hearts and our souls into this school.”...
Larry Graham’s grandson has been a student at Berean for seven years and Graham is an ardent supporter of each and every staff member after knowing them for years, he said...
After serving on a variety of boards in Arizona and California, this is the first time he has seen one where the executive officer and their spouse sit on the same board, Graham said.
“This completely eliminates any possibility of a board being unbiased. I think the only honorable and Christian answer to these problems is the immediate resignation of both the board president and his spouse.”
15 comments:
I'm a teacher involved in this right now and we just heard word from the board. Essentially they are unwilling to accept our changes and will act on nothing other than the bylaws. They will be changing the bylaws to reflect their corrupt practices. We will continue to fight.
In addition I would add (as I am a current teacher involved as well)they are going to continue to punish us by implementing an increased enrollment cap so as to have the ability to take our pay again, at will. Essentially the entire response boiled down to this: "The board will take no action on this matter." No explanation was attached except to say that conflict of interests are widely accepted within the system.
Jim Fogarty, Pastor of the Oasis Foursquare Church in Sierra Vista, AZ describes himself as a man who desires the King and His Kingdom for himself and those he meets. Apparently he doesn't include teachers or students in that.
The church number is 520-458-7936. An email address to reach him is info@oasis4sq.com.
How is a man who so blatantly disregards the law (forget morality) still A) allowed to sit on the board, and B) running a church?
It's a crime, and I, for one, have both emailed and called to let him know that. I hope you do, too.
I am a parent at this school and it shocks me that teachers can make accusations against someone and when these are accusations are found to be false, no one even attempts to acknowlege this. No appoligies given. If it was me, I'd be thankful that I have a job in an economy that is at it's lowest. The state makes its decisions to cut funding based on enrollment. Do your job to the best of your ability and you will be rewarded.
Any word on what has happened since this?
Obviously the parent that commented in August has no clue how that school is run. I saw it from the inside, and it was horrible in so many ways. Nepotism ran wild and there were so many issues with students that it was a miracle if anyone learned anything at all. Random decision making seemed to be a key strategy. I completely believe that someone half-assed something and then expected the teachers to swallow whatever decision handed down. Trained teachers shouldn't have to be thankful for being abused and mishandled by the school and the parents.
In response to "Any word on what has happened since this?" left on December 7, 2011:
My kids and most of the other kids have re-enrolled for the 2011-2012 school year there. Most of the teachers are still teaching there. There has been no wrong-doing that has ever been proven by anyone. The State has not filed any charges. The board members all still serve on the board.
My kids are getting straight A's in all their classes. I believe the school to be a great school in Sierra Vista and in the State of Arizona.
It was an unfortunate pay-cut - yes. However, such is life. The storm is over and life goes on.
i would love to see what the parent above would have done if his/her paycheck was cut by a full 30%. Teachers get paid crap to start with. Take away nearly 1/3 and they don't make enough to live on. Yet they still have to do more than most parents.
Also: In the past it has been very easy to get an A at that school, I woudln't consider that an accomplishment.
WOW! I had no idea this was going on but it explains a lot. My child attended last year and there was a problem with the Math teacher-there was one then there wasn't. I noticed my childs grades began to fall (unusual). The year ended with failing grades and poor score on the AIMS tests but somehow passed onto the next grade. How can this be? When teachers aren't paid what they are worth-you get the bottom of the barrel!
Teachers you CHOSE to be a Teacher so quit complaining. If you don't like your job then CHOOSE to do something different and get out of my child's classroom because I am sure there is someone that NEEDS and WANTS your job and my child does not need need yor negativity while trying to learn. Maybe McDonald's is the place for you hamburgers don't have a brain so you could not corrupt it. TRY TO LIVE ON THAT WAGE
Well, the fact is they may be teachers but the majority of them are not certified or several do not even hold a degree in education. And instead of those teacher's flipping burgers, I have a feeling many of their students will be flipping burgers instead. Most of the kids pass on to grades, but just look at their AIMS scores...it is beyond sad. I believe this school is just producing poor education and academics and I do not understand why any parent would have their child attend this school (and yes I know it from the inside as well and left by choice, not to flip burgers but to get a real teaching job elsewhere and actually make a difference)
HA! My first teaching job out of college was at this school, and I was one of TWO certified teachers in the entire place. The rest of the teachers were friends of friends who had either a degree or life experience. I am SO thankful I was given this opportunity to see corruption in a school before going to a public setting. I now laugh when others complain about their jobs...
Nepotism...ha! They breed it. And what about that creepy food service guy who lived behind the church in a trailer? He had a sick fascination with the students... Yuck.
If you send your children to this school, you should be ashamed of your parenting abilities. Although a Berean education is better than no education at all, it isn't far from the bottom.
I CANNOT wait for the day this school is shut down because of mismanaging funds... It will take a while to uncover because of the fact that a husband, a wife, the daughter, and their best friend run the place... along with a corrupt boad made up of the pastor and his whole family... HA!
Anonymous, the scandal continues and I couldn't agree more on many of your comments. That sad part that remains is that ultimately the children and teachers who do care and have continued to stay will suffer. The corruption is so obvious and the nepotism,..... Please!!! Could it get any worse!?!
The writing is on the wall it is just a matter of when the little kingdom will crumble!
Anonymous, the scandal continues and I couldn't agree more on many of your comments. That sad part that remains is that ultimately the children and teachers who do care and have continued to stay will suffer. The corruption is so obvious and the nepotism,..... Please!!! Could it get any worse!?!
The writing is on the wall it is just a matter of when the little kingdom will crumble!
UNKNOWN WRITER
The problems are still there. The teacher never received their money from this first incident. The charter holder Jim Fogerty continues to hold onto state funds (301 monies) for the past two years. The teachers have seen very little of these monies. When asked why Fogerty gives one excuse after another. he needs to find his way out of this charter and put someone else (honest) in this position. The school has come a long way in the 10 years of operation, but continues to struggle to get a hold on things. Many of your people are misinformed; there are plenty of teachers at Berean that are certified teachers. Many of the teachers are there for the students and put forth all they have. Berean PARENTS GET HOLD OF THINGS GET FOGERTY OUT AND GET SOMEONE HONEST WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
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