Boston Avenue Charter School

“After losing appeal, Boston Avenue charter to be shut down.” Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL), 6/13/2013

An academically struggling DeLand charter school will close June 30 after losing an appellate court bid Thursday to put that deadline on indefinite hold.

Volusia County school district officials announced the closure of Boston Avenue Charter School on Thursday afternoon, just hours after the 5th District Court of Appeal denied a pair of motions that would have allowed it to remain open indefinitely...

"It's just another hurdle," said Micah Jackson, chief operating officer of School Management Solutions, the firm that runs the charter school that opened in 2008...

Boston Avenue earned F's on two of its last three state report cards, a key point in the School Board's decision not to renew the charter that expired last June 30. The school's scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test — the basic building block of the state grading system — improved some this year.

Last June, the Flagler School Board shut down Heritage Academy in Bunnell — also run by School Management Solutions — after it received two consecutive F grades. The 5th DCA denied a motion to put Heritage's closure on hold while the appeal was heard in that case, too, and the school withdrew its overall appeal in August.

Boston Avenue could continue to pursue its appeal even if it's forced to close June 30... 

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“Jury: Former DeLand teacher raped student; Jose Antonio Tirado will spend the rest of his life in prison for raping an 11-year-old boy.” Orlando Sentinel (FL), 3/18/2010

A former charter school teacher will spend the rest of his life in prison for raping an 11-year-old boy.

A jury found Jose Antonio Tirado, 26, of Deltona, guilty of sexual battery on a child under 12, according to a report on News-JournalOnline.com.

Prosecutors dropped a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation against Tirado, who worked as a fifth-grade teacher at Boston Avenue Charter School in DeLand, according to the report...

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“DeLand charter-school teacher charged with sex crime.” West Volusia Beacon (FL), 5/30/2009

DeLand charter-school teacher Jose Tirado Jr. remains in the Volusia County Branch Jail without bond, charged with sexual battery of a child under the age of 12. Investigators are continuing to search for other potential victims...

Tirado, a fifth-grade teacher at Boston Avenue Charter School in DeLand, had been running a summer day camp at his home. The victim and his family had known Tirado for about three years, the charging affidavit stated.

The victim spent the night at Tirado's home on Dublin Road in Deltona May 14, in preparation for an early departure for a field trip the next morning...

The boy said he struggled and told Tirado to stop, but Tirado held the boy down with his hand on the boy's chest and proceeded to perform the sexual act...

Principal Frank Jones at Boston Avenue Charter School said the school had received no complaints about Tirado.

"He had a very thorough background check," Jones said.

Jones said all the charter school's teachers are screened and background-checked through the county school district. In addition, though only staff involved in the preschool or the school's extended day-care program are checked through DCF, Tirado came to the school "with credentials," Jones said. He had already been checked through DCF...

Legacy Elementary School charter school (AZ)

“Former school bus driver sentenced in child molestation case.” azfamily.com (AZ), 8/13/2012

PHOENIX -- A former school bus driver in Mesa was sentenced on Monday morning to 10 years in prison and lifetime probation with sex offender terms.

Billy Bryant, 64, pleaded guilty to three counts of molestation of a child and one count of aggravated assault....

Bryant had previously worked as a bus driver for a charter school in Mesa. He was fired in 2009 after being accused in another molestation case.

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“Former school bus driver arrested in molestation case.” East Valley Tribune (AZ), 11/16/2010

A 62-year-old former bus driver for Legacy Charter School who Mesa police say they questioned in a child molestation case last year was arrested Thursday on suspicion of two counts of child molestation after a 9-year-old girl told police he sexually touched her near and in his car...

Police said Bryant, who frequently visits a family in the neighborhood and is known as “Mr. Bill” to other children, also was arrested on one count of aggravated assault.

While the girl was being interviewed by an officer in the police department’s center against family violence, she told police that Bryant had grabbed her buttock and also had sexually touched her over her clothing while she was inside the car.

Last year, when Bryant was working as a bus driver for Legacy Charter School, similar allegations arose, but the case was later dropped after he denied the allegations and there were no witnesses to support the girl’s statements, police said. Bryant was fired from his job, according to police.

Because of Bryant working around children, police believe there may be more victims that have not come forward.

Ethical Community Charter School

“Fourth fondling charge lodged against Jersey City LEGOs master whotaught afterschool program.” The Jersey Journal (NJ), 11/8/2010

The Jersey City man who taught a LEGOs afterschool activity at a number of Hudson County schools has been charged in a fourth fondling case in connection with a class, officials said today.

Accused child molester Eric Sophie, 40, of Newport Parkway, was charged this weekend with sexual assault by contact, child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor John Mulkeen said. The prosecutor did not provide the age of the child, nor say where the alleged abuse occurred.

Sophie was first arrested Wednesday, accused with molesting two 5-year-old girls and an 8-year-old girl. He was charged then with three counts each of sexual assault by contact, child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, officials said.

Mulkeen said those alleged incidents occurred in Jersey City and Hoboken.

Sophie, who calls himself "Legomaster" on his MySpace.com page, ran an after-school program at Ethical Community Charter School on Broadway in Jersey City. The school opened in September 2009 and currently has three grades, kindergarten through second grade. The principal told The Jersey Journal that his services were terminated following his arrest and also said he had passed a background check before he was hired.

The school sent out a letter to parents saying the person who led the LEGO program had been arrested, adding that more information was available by calling the principal or the Hudson County Prosecutor's Special Victims Unit.

Prosecutors have not identified other schools where Sophie worked.

Mulkeen, a team leader in the prosecutor's office's Special Victims Unit, said investigators conducted numerous interviews over the weekend and the investigation could last weeks or months...

Parkway Academy Charter High School

“Parkway Academy put on notice.” Sun Sentinel (FL), 3/20/2012

The Broward School Board put Parkway Academy on notice Tuesday that its poor record of student achievement could result in it being shut down.

Board members voted unanimously to send a letter to the Miramar charter school notifying it that its charter won’t be renewed in June. The charter, which specializes in automotive studies, was the only F-rated high school in Broward County last year. It enrolls about 517 students.

This isn’t the last chance for the school, though. It can appeal the decision.

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“Parkway Academy of Miramar fined $260,800.” West Volusia Beacon (FL), 6/22/2010

GAINESVILLE — Parkway Academy of Miramar has been penalized for major violations committed by its athletic program.

The school has been reprimanded, fined $260,800, its entire athletic program placed on five years of restrictive probation and three additional years of administrative probation, and the school's football program was placed on five years of restrictive probation and three additional years of administrative probation...

The penalties are in response to violations of multiple provisions of association regulations, including multiple counts of student-athlete ineligibility.

The school currently is serving restrictive probation for violations in its girls' basketball program...

The Florida High School Athletic Association office began its investigation in the 2008-09 school year, particularly the football team's student-eligibility...

The investigation determined that 32 specific violations of FHSAA bylaws and policies were committed, including:

... participation of non-school students in practice;

... participation of ineligible student-athletes in interscholastic contests;

... participation in illegal football scrimmages;

... violations of athletic-recruiting policies; and

... falsification of information to the FHSAA investigative consultant.

"It is not only the tremendous number of FHSAA bylaws and policies that have been violated by Parkway Academy, but also the egregiousness of those violations that are so appalling," said Executive Director Roger Dearing. "This investigation, which took more than four months to complete, along with the subsequent report and findings, represent the most serious levels of offenses with which the association has had to deal in recent years...

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“Teen Dies in Shooting After School Dance in Miramar.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/6/2006

A teenager was shot and killed Friday night following an altercation at a school dance at Parkway Academy High School in Miramar...

A disturbance inside the cafeteria carried over to the outside of the school where the shooting took place. The victim was identified as Devon Sutton, 19, the brother of the disc jockey at the event.

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“Teen Suspect In School-bus Shooting Could Be Charged As Adult.”11/17/2005

A 17-year-old Miramar girl accused of shooting her classmate appeared Wednesday in court, where she likely will be charged as an adult.

Tuesday morning the suspect was the last person to get on the bus to school. She pulled a chrome handgun from behind her back, reached over a seat with students and shot Cheatham in the shoulder, the affidavit says. Then the suspect pulled back the gun's slide, ready to shoot again.

The bus driver quickly grabbed the suspect and forced her off the bus before driving off.

The girls are both juniors at Parkway Academy High, a 480-student charter school in Miramar...

Eagle Heights Academy

“Auditor: 'Extensive mismanagement' at Eagle Heights Academy.” The Vindicator (OH), 5/11/10

The Ohio auditor’s office found “extensive mismanagement” at Eagle Heights Academy, Youngstown’s largest charter school, including the failure of the school to pay more than $450,000 in federal taxes.

The audit, released today, also shows the school illegally paid $33,900 to 29 of its employees from a federal grant.

The auditor’s office provided the IRS with information about Eagle Heights’ failure to pay $333,722.34 in federal income tax withholdings and $120,658.92 in Medicare withholdings.

The audit found $707,507 in questionable costs or errors that caused costs to be overstated or understated on federal reports.

“The lack of proper financial oversight at this school allowed for the misspending of tax dollars intended to educate Ohio’s school children,” said Auditor Mary Taylor.

The state Department of Education has ordered the school at 1833 Market St. on the city’s South Side to close by June because it received a rating of academic emergency on each of its last two annual state report cards. An effort is being made to open another charter school at the same location.

Southwest Learning Center

HEAD OF CHARTERS EARNS $204,000. Albuquerque Journal (NM) 11 Mar 2010 http://www.abqjournal.com/news/metro/112311207866newsmetro03-11-10.htm

The head of three charter schools with fewer than 500 students combined earns $204,000, more than any superintendent in New Mexico except APS' Winston Brooks.

Brooks earns $256,000 a year to oversee a district of 94,000 students; Scott Glasrud oversees the Southwest Learning Center in Albuquerque with a combined enrollment of 495.

Albuquerque school board president Martin Esquivel called Glasrud's salary "beyond ridiculous," adding that it raises questions about accountability at charter schools.

"I think the perception is going to be that this charter school has set up its own private fiefdom using public money," Esquivel said in an interview. "There's really no way to justify this at all."

Glasrud's schools came under scrutiny last month after he refused to provide bank statements to the Albuquerque district, saying doing so would violate the schools' autonomy. He, along with Mike May of Amy Biehl Charter High, eventually released the documents…

"Just like anyone, I negotiate the best deal for myself and my family," Glasrud said…

The next-highest-paid superintendent in New Mexico is Stan Rounds of Las Cruces, who earns $168,000 to oversee a district of 24,000 students, according to the New Mexico Coalition of School Administrators.

[Aggie Lopez, former APS board president and current president of the Southwest Secondary board,] also said Glasrud is more of a superintendent than a principal, and she pointed out that the Southwest Learning Center schools are highly successful, with a graduation rate of 95.2 percent. The schools also consistently make Adequate Yearly Progress in math and reading…

But Esquivel said the schools' performance cannot be directly compared with APS, because of the difference in demographics.

"Some would try to compare the academic achievement to APS, without disclosing the fact that they have nowhere near the same poverty issues," Esquivel said…

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APS QUESTIONS CHARTER SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SALARY: APS RAISES MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS. KOAT.com (Albuquerque, NM) 11 Mar 2010

The Albuquerque Public School district is questioning why a charter school superintendent makes more money than the mayor of Albuquerque.

Scott Glasrud oversees three charter schools, Southwest Primary, La Luz Del Monte and Southwest Secondary.

According to reports, he oversees slightly fewer than 500 students and gets paid $204,000 per year.

Winston Brooks, superintendent of the Albuquerque Public School district, supervises 94,000 students and makes $256,000 per year.

"I think a $204,000 salary for 500 kids is absolutely outrageous," said Marty Esquivel, president of APS school board.

"The mayor of Albuquerque makes $100,000 a year, is that job tougher than being the mayor of Albuquerque?" said Esquivel…

Bonita Springs Charter School

FOUR WOMEN SUE BONITA SPRINGS CHARTER SCHOOL FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT. Naples News (FL) 04 Jun 2010 http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jun/04/four-women-sue-bs-charter-school-administrator-sex/

Four women have sued Bonita Springs Charter School in federal court claiming sexual harassment and retaliation at the hands of their administrator.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the middle district of Florida in Fort Myers, said Ana Sanchez, Elsa Aguilera, Maria (also called Carmen) Soto and Otilia Hernandez were fired after they refused repeated sexual advances from former school administrator Jorge Castillo.

Soto, 63, was also discriminated against because of her age, the suit claimed. Castillo is said to have told her no work was available, however, the school then hired younger female employees with less experience.

All four women filed a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which, in May, found evidence that violations had occurred and granted their right to sue…

That harassment created an “intimidating, hostile and offensive work environment” with “tangible adverse employment action,” the suit said.

The claim did not enumerate specific examples, but said the women faced unwelcome verbal comments, inappropriate touching, continued requests for sex or sexual favors.

“Lee Charter Foundation, the governing body of the school that is located at 25380 Bernwood Drive, is also named as a defendant.”…

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MOTHER SUES CHARTER SCHOOL. Orlando Sentinel (FL) April 08, 2005 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2005-04-08/news/0504080163_1_bonita-springs-charter-school-teacher

BONITA SPRINGS -- After a little girl got sick in the bathroom of her kindergarten class, the teacher made her don rubber gloves and remove a clog from the toilet, according to a lawsuit filed by the girl's mother.

Lori Januska sued Bonita Springs Charter School this week after she said her 5-year-old daughter, Heather, clogged the toilet Sept. 22 and her teacher made her remove it while the class watched.

The suit said "a vulnerable 5-year-old was subjected to cruel, unusual and traumatic disciplinary actions which directly resulted in severe emotional distress, pain and suffering, and mental distress."

The girl suffers from an incurable gastrointestinal condition.

The suit, which seeks an unspecified amount in damages, claims the school staff was negligent in hiring an unqualified teacher.

Principal Pamela Franco and school-district attorney Keith Martin would not comment on the suit.

Mark Levinsen, senior vice president of administration and human resources for Charter Schools USA, investigated the original complaint and said the teacher was disciplined.

Eagles Peak Charter School (4000 students)

FORMER SCHOOL DIRECTOR GETS $1M.  North County Times (San Diego County, CA) 20 Aug 2010 

A jury awarded the former executive director of the now-defunct Eagles Peak Charter School $1 million this week in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed after the administrator was fired in 2008, an attorney said Friday.

In the lawsuit, the former executive, Rich Alderson, accused the school’s board of directors of firing him after less than a year on the job for refusing to retaliate against employees who had criticized them.

The jury determined that the school acted with fraud, malice or oppression, according to Bob Ottilie, Alderson’s attorney…

Eagle Ridge Academy

Eagle Ridge Academy was established after the closure of Brighton Collegiate High School (formerly Brighton Charter School) which was plagued by a series of sexual scandals involving teachers and students. Read about that HERE. 

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HIGH-FLYING EAGLE RIDGE GROUNDS SOME STUDENTS; STUDENT, PARENT ALLEGE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, RACE PLAYS FACTOR; Brighton Standard Blade (CO) 29 Dec 2010

BRIGHTON — When Eagle Ridge Academy opened last fall, in place of the defunct Brighton Collegiate High School, the school’s new leadership promised a high-flying curriculum designed to give students a jumpstart on their college careers.

But the school’s new focus isn’t for everyone and at least one former student said he believes students of the former Brighton Collegiate are being pushed out to make room for new, smarter students.

“It’s like they are trying to get rid of us and get new kids to replace us,” sophomore Evin Cook said.

Cook, 16, said he was brought into the office of principal Brian Spinnato, shortly before students adjourned for winter break earlier this month and told he was “no longer a good fit for the school.”…

But [Evin’s mother Margaret Cook] said they were first informed, after the October enrollment count, that Evin wasn’t a good fit for the school and they should examine different options for him…

Spinnato said they expected there would be some difficulties in making the transition, especially for former Brighton Collegiate students, to the new curriculum.

While he was reluctant to comment specifically on Evin’s academic performance at the school, he said he understands some of Margaret and Evin’s frustration.

“I did tell her that the kids that were at Brighton Collegiate do have a rough transition,” he said. “It is tough and it is unfair that, halfway through the game, the rules changed. Unfortunately, it is the scenario that it is…

Cook further alleges there were racial undertones to the students who were spoken to about their academic futures before the holiday break. She said the majority of students were minorities, either Hispanic or African American, and based on their academic standards, Eagle Ridge will end up a “predominantly-white school.”

“They’re trying to have an all-white school over there,” she said.

Spinnato disputes that any of it was based on race. He pointed out that 45 percent of the school’s population meets the minority status and that only a small percentage of the school’s more than 200 students were presented with different options for their academic futures…

Imagine College Preparatory High School

STUDENT IS AWARDED $145,000 IN ALLEGED ASSAULT AT ST. LOUIS CHARTER SCHOOL- SETTLEMENT INVOLVES ALLEGATIONS AGAINST OFF-DUTY CITY COP. STLtoday.com (St. Louis, MO) 29 May 2010 

A student who was allegedly assaulted by an off-duty St. Louis police officer at a charter school was awarded $145,000 as part of the terms of a settlement disclosed Friday.

The settlement reached earlier this week between Imagine Academy of Careers, at 3740 Marine Avenue, and Barbara Perry stems from an incident on Feb. 26, 2009. The plaintiffs alleged that Perry's son, J.N., who was a minor and not named in the suit, was assaulted at Imagine College Preparatory High School by an off-duty police officer, Eugene Page, who was in a relationship with his teacher, Genesa Smith…

The settlement states that the payment absolves Imagine Schools and employees of Imagine of any wrongdoing but leaves the door open to future litigation against Eugene Page and the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners…

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SUIT CLAIMS STUDENT, 15, WAS ASSAULTED AT IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOL. STLtoday.com (St. Louis, MO) 21 Aug 2009 

ST. LOUIS -- A federal lawsuit filed Friday alleges that a 15-year-old student at Imagine College Preparatory High School was beaten by staff and a St. Louis police officer.

Named in the suit are Genesa Smith, a teacher; Eugene Page, a St. Louis police officer who the suit said is Smith’s boyfriend; Rodney Williams, a security guard; Tamara Thomas, the charter school’s principal at the time; and the school itself.

The suit, filed by the boy and his mother, Barbara Perry, alleges Page lifted the boy by his throat and slammed him repeatedly against a wall on Feb. 26. The suit states that Page told the boy he had been accused of threatening a teacher, and that the other three knew what was happening but did nothing. The boy, now 16, suffered injuries that caused blood in his urine, as well as blunt force trauma, according to the suit…

Cape Lookout Marine Science High School

JUDGE FAVORS APPEAL EFFORT. News-Times (NC) 02 Mar 2011

MOREHEAD CITY — Attorney Mike Lincoln, representing Cape Lookout Marine Science High School, said Tuesday he has been informed that Superior Court Judge John Nobles planned to rule in favor of allowing the charter school to remain open at least through 2012.

The appeals hearing is one of several steps the school has taken to fight the state board’s vote to close the school at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

Cape Lookout has stated the reason for its high rate is because it serves a high population of at risk students…

Although State Board of Education Attorney Laura Crumpler could not be reached by press time, Mr. Lincoln said she had already informed him that if Judge Nobles ruled in favor of the school the state planned to appeal the decision to the N.C. Court of Appeals.

“That will probably take at least a year,” he said.

Mr. Lincoln said if the Court of Appeals rules in favor of the State Board of Education, he planned to appeal to the N.C. Supreme Court. He added that Ms. Crumpler had indicated she would do the same if the Court of Appeals rules in favor of Cape Lookout…

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JUDGE GRANTS STAY FOR SCHOOL'S CLOSING.  News-Times (NC) 10 Dec 2010

BEAUFORT — A superior court judge Wednesday granted a motion to stay the closing of Cape Lookout Marine Science High School…

This paves the way for the school to appeal a Nov. 4 State Board of Education decision that would have closed the Morehead City charter school by Dec. 31…

The school’s attorney, Mike Lincoln of Emerald Isle, said he hopes to have the appeal heard the week of Feb. 7 in Craven County superior court in New Bern. Any ruling could then be appealed to the N.C. Court of Appeals and eventually end up in the N.C. Supreme Court.

The Wednesday action is one of several that has taken place since the State Board of Education originally voted in March to not renew the school’s charter at the end of the 2009-2010 school year because of its consistent high dropout rate, which for the past eight years has averaged about 30 percent, the highest in the state.

But school officials have argued they serve a high-risk population and have tried to lower the dropout rate.

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SCHOOL TO REOPEN; WINS APPEAL CASE  News-Times (NC) 06 Aug 1010 

MOREHEAD CITY — A charter school here that was slated to close will remain open at least two more years as a result of a state judge’s ruling Wednesday…

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CAPE LOOKOUT MARINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL / Charter school appeals decision to close doors. ENC Today (NC) 10 Mar 2010

MOREHEAD CITY — The head of a Carteret County charter school isn’t letting the school close without a fight.

Principal Susan Smith plans to appeal last week’s decision of the State Board of Education not to renew the charter for Cape Lookout Marine Science High School in Morehead City.

“We provide a service to students of Carteret County, and I’m not going to let it fall by the wayside that easy,” Smith said.

Smith said she has contacted the N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools and is waiting to hear back regarding the appeal process.

Appeals can go through the State Board of Education or the legal system as a civil suit. Smith said it would likely be through the courts as the State Board of Education voted against the charter renewal…

The State Board of Education voted 6-2 against renewing the charter, following the recommendation of the State Office of Charter Schools…

School of Excellence

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTES TO SHUTTER CHARTER SCHOOL AT HUMPHREY; APRIL 13, 2010; The Daily World (AR) 

School of Excellence students will have to finish up the remainder of the year elsewhere after the state Board of Education unanimously voted Monday to shutter the troubled Humphrey charter school.

Vicky Wilson, who was appointed interim director of the school in January, told the board a month ago that the two-year-old school was struggling to pay bills and expected to be nearly $80,000 in debt by the end of the school year…

“They were operating in the red; they didn’t even know how they were going to pay all of their bills for the rest of the year,” said Tim Kimbrell, commissioner for the Arkansas Department of Education…

A state report had revealed the school was out of compliance with nine of 18 state requirements for public schools in Arkansas. Wilson complained to the education board that the school wasn’t given a fair chance, had just hired a new director this week and had hoped to raise its enrollment cap for next year to improve the current situation…

Philadelphia School Reform Commission

NUTTER ORDERS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE KING CHARTER SCHOOL FLAP; April 26, 2011; Philadelphia Inquirer (PA)

Mayor Nutter has launched a city investigation into the withdrawal of an Atlanta charter school company from operating Martin Luther King High School, amid allegations of conflict of interest and political wrangling involving School Reform Commission Chairman Robert L. Archie Jr. and State Rep. Dwight Evans.

Nutter said Monday that he had directed Joan Markman, the city's chief integrity officer, to conduct a series of fact-finding interviews and report the results to him as soon as possible.

The development follows a week of disclosures about a closed-door meeting involving Archie, Evans, and one charter operator who later backed out of King, and the subsequent departure of a second charter operator. It also follows requests by some King parents for a state investigation…

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MLK HIGH CHARTER PLAN FALLING APART; April 21, 2011; Philadelphia Inquirer (PA)

The New Jersey-based nonprofit that has overseen Martin Luther King High School for the last seven years has withdrawn its bid to run the school as a charter, amid a controversy involving School Reform Commission Chairman Robert L. Archie Jr. and State Rep. Dwight Evans.

Citing a climate of "unrelenting hostility," Foundations Inc. Chief Executive Officer Rhonda H. Lauer in a letter to Archie and Superintendent Arlene Ackerman sent Wednesday night said her organization no longer was interested in participating in the district's "Renaissance" school reform plan…

The decision follows a report by the Philadelphia Public School Notebook this week that Archie met in a closed-door session with Evans and John Q. Porter, of Mosaica Turnaround Partners to discuss the fate of the school even though he had recused himself from voting on the charter earlier that day because of a potential conflict of interest. The law firm at which he is a partner, Duane Morris LLP, has represented Foundations, the Notebook reported.

The charter, which would be for five years, is estimated to be worth approximately $12 million dollars a year, according to the Notebook.

The School Reform Commission in March had voted to give Mosaica, an Atlanta-based for-profit charter school company, the right to negotiate the charter for King.

But Mosaica later withdrew its application after Evans publicly expressed his disappointment to the Commission and continued to support Foundations, with which he has had a long-standing relationship. Some parent leaders at the school, who supported Mosaica, however, have complained…

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SRC CHAIR FACES CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST QUESTIONS; April 19, 2011; Philadelphia Notebook (PA) 

Just over a month ago, the chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission took part in a pivotal closed-door meeting to discuss the fate of a charter school deal potentially worth $60 million, only hours after publicly recusing himself from voting on the matter due to a conflict of interest…

The meeting was held on the evening of March 16 at School District of Philadelphia headquarters, and included Archie, State Rep. Dwight Evans, and John Q. Porter of Mosaica Education, an Atlanta-based, for-profit school operator. [Read summary about Porter on The Broad Report]

Earlier that day, Archie’s fellow commissioners had voted 3-0 to award Mosaica the right to negotiate the charter to run Martin Luther King High in Germantown. Archie didn’t vote, citing his law firm’s ties to another applicant for the charter. Porter described himself that afternoon as “ecstatic” about the vote.

But the day after the three men met, Mosaica walked away from the King deal.

Porter explained the reversal at the time by saying that he did not want to interfere with Evans’ plans for his community. He also said that his company “did not believe that without full support we could be successful.”

Mosaica’s abrupt about-face left Foundations Inc., a New Jersey-based nonprofit with ties to both Archie and Evans, as the only bidder for the King charter. King is being transformed as part of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s signature Renaissance Schools initiative. …

Zack Stalberg, chair of the Committee of Seventy, a watchdog group, called Archie’s action “highly improper."

The chair of a volunteer panel at King advising the District on the school’s turnaround plan said the group wants a full investigation into Archie’s behavior.

Archie has publicly acknowledged that the law firm where he is a partner, Duane Morris LLP, represents Foundations. (Archie has also recused himself from decisions involving Universal Companies, a charter provider slated to run Audenried High and Vare Middle School, for similar reasons.)

Evans also has deep connections to Foundations, which has for decades been his preferred partner for education projects of all kinds in and around his West Oak Lane district. For the past eight years, Foundations has been managing King under contract with the District.

In addition, Archie and Evans have a longstanding personal relationship. Evans has referred to Archie in press reports as a friend for more than two decades, and Archie has been a frequent donor to Evans’ political campaigns, as have many Foundations executives.

King’s charter, initially for five years, is estimated to be worth approximately $12 million dollars a year to its manager. The charter could potentially extend indefinitely…

Stalberg says he believes Archie's presence at the meeting will likely trigger the interest of state and federal investigators…

Stalberg believes Archie’s presence in the March 16 meeting will trigger not only questions about the King charter, but about the politically appointed board that oversees the $3.2 billion dollar district and its nearly 200,000 public and charter school students. “I think there’s a good chance that this will fire up the question of who is the SRC, and why is the state running our schools anyway?” Stalberg said. “The incident and the larger question may be totally different things.”

Stalberg, who edited the Philadelphia Daily News for three decades, said the story of Archie and Evans’ closed-door meeting is unlike anything he’s heard in recent years…

Florida charter schools (proficiency levels not much higher)

DATA SHOWS STUDENT PROFICIENCY LEVELS NOT MUCH HIGHER AT CHARTER SCHOOLS; December 14, 2010; The Florida Independent

Florida legislators gathered last week to watch Waiting for Superman, a documentary that advances two solutions for the problems with America’s education system: school choice and accountability for teachers. It also emphasizes the role charter schools can play in the educational debate.

But new Florida data shows that students at charter schools are not significantly more proficient at reading, math and science than those at traditional public schools…

The report highlights the increase in the number of charter schools with an A grade from 2002 through 2009, and states that “charter school students outperformed traditional public school students” in the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (aka the FCAT).

But a closer look at the results shows the proficiency percentages for both charter and traditional public schools were similar:

In reading proficiency at the elementary level, 76 percent of charter school students were proficient, while 73 percent of public school students were. At the middle school level, charter school students had 69 percent proficiency, compared to 63 percent for public school students. At the high school level, charter school students had 44 percent proficiency. Public school students had 43 percent.

In math proficiency, at the elementary level, charter students stood at 73 percent and public school students were at 72 percent. The middle school level shows 65 percent for charter school students versus 62 percent for public school students…

The data makes clear the need to look carefully at the average percentage of students meeting high standards in reading, math and science in each school district to determine whether charter schools offer parents a better choice to solve the problems facing education in Florida…

There are also for-profit education management companies such as Charter Schools USA, which is based in Fort Lauderdale and manages 18 charter schools in Florida. The company’s website says Charter Schools USA is

one of the largest providers of charter school management services in the nation. We successfully manage private and municipal charters for grades pre-K through 12. Charter Schools USA assists corporations, government entities, developers or nonprofit agencies with all phases of charter school design, planning, development, financing, construction, operations and curricula.

Jonathan Hage — the current chairman, president and CEO of Charter Schools USA — is a member of Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s education transition team. Hage served as director of research for Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future, a strong advocate for school choice. He has also worked for George H.W. Bush and was a member of Charlie Crist’s education transition team.

On its website, Charter Schools USA calls for readers to actively lobby the legislature to strengthen educational options.

Texas Serenity Academy Charter School

ALDINE CHARTER SCHOOL SUES SUGAR LAND MAN; December 2, 2010; Ultimate Fort Bend (TX) 

A charter school is suing after a former employee wrote himself a $240,000 check from the school’s account.

Texas Serenity Academy Charter School filed a lawsuit on Dec. 1 in the Harris County District Court against Don Johnson, Freddie Oliver and Damon Meeks alleging fraud, embezzlement, misapplication of fiduciary property, theft, interference of contract, trespass, robbery and other crimes.

The school states that on Nov. 29, 2010, Johnson, of 3806 Cypress Key Drive in Spring, went to Wells Fargo Bank, located in Kingwood, and closed four accounts, two credit card accounts and all debit cards belonging to the school.

According to the brief, Johnson then had the bank write him a cashier’s check in the amount of $240,000. Afterward, the school says Johnson had Meeks, an attorney located at 245 Commerce Green Blvd. in Sugar Land, along with Oliver, a private investigator, and two Houston police officers eject current employees off school property.

The plaintiff is seeking a restraining order against the defendants, forcing them to stay away from the school and its current employees.

Hospitality Public Charter High School

FORMER CHARTER SCHOOL BOOKKEEPER PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT OF FUNDS; November 9, 2010; Department of Justice Press Release

WASHINGTON—Ashanti Bumbray, a former bookkeeper for the Hospitality Public Charter High School in the District of Columbia, pled guilty today to a felony charge stemming from her theft of more than $23,000 of school funds, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.; John G. Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office; and Charles J. Willoughby, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.

Bumbray, 32, of Waldorf, Maryland, pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Judge Rosemary M. Collyer to a charge of theft from a program receiving federal funds. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Based on the sentencing guidelines, the likely range is probation to six months of incarceration with a fine of $1,000 to $10,000. Sentencing is set for February 9, 2011.

According to the Statement of Offense filed with the Court, Bumbray was a bookkeeper at Hospitality Public Charter High School from approximately September 2008 until February 2009. Starting in early October 2008 through late January 2009, she stole more than $23,000 of Hospitality's funds by issuing checks and initiating banking transactions for her personal benefit.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Perren, and Inspector General Willoughby praised the investigative efforts of the special agent who worked on the case for the FBI's Washington Field Office, as well as Special Agent Kerthalia Peavely of the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General. They also recognized the efforts of U.S. Attorney's Office Legal Assistant Jared Forney and Assistant United States Attorney John D. Griffith, who prosecuted the case.

Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School

ARREST MADE IN CHARTER SCHOOL LAPTOP THEFT; September 16, 2010; The Daily Local News (Chester County, PA) 

EAST GOSHEN — An arrest has been made after the PA Leadership Charter School reported 37 laptops — valued at almost $30,000 — went missing from the school…

The women told police they bought the laptops from Nakesha Wallace, who works at a Sunoco, according to police.

Wallace told police she bought three laptops from a customer named Jay who lives close to the Sunoco. She later directed police to the vehicle Jay drives, police said. After police ran the tags, the car came back to Rita Warsavage, of Havertown.

Police later learned Warsavage’s boyfriend is Jay A. Cohen, the assistant IT person at the PA Leadership Charter School.

When police interviewed Cohen, he said he knew nothing about the stolen laptops and denied having anything to do with them, police said.

Police later charged Cohen with two counts of theft by unlawful taking and two counts of receiving stolen property…

Red Apple Entheos Academy

TEACHER CHARGED IN THEFT; Aug 17, 2010; Salt Lake Tribune (UT) 

A charter school teacher is accused of stealing $4,277 from his school’s bank account.

The teacher, 34, allegedly went to a Wells Fargo Bank and emptied the bank account of the Red Apple Entheos Academy in Kearns. He did not have permission to make the withdrawal, police wrote.

The teacher is charged with third-degree felony theft.

Kamit Institute for Magnificent Achievers

POOR ACHIEVEMENT BRINGS CLOSURE OF DC HIGH SCHOOL; August 8, 2010; Washington Examiner (D.C.) 

The D.C. Public Charter School Board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to shut down Kamit Institute for Magnificent Achievers, a charter high school in upper Northwest.

The school’s achievement wasn’t quite as magnificent as the board had hoped for. Since 2005, no more than 43 percent of students scored proficient on the city’s reading and math exams. In 2008, math proficiency dropped to 10 percent, with reading at 22 percent. Since 2007, the truancy rate has been at least 30 percent.

Supporters of the African-themed school attended the meeting in force, as they did at a late July public hearing to defend the school’s results…

The board was not convinced, citing a decade of poor performance and shoddy organization. They voted 7-0 for the charter’s revocation.

KIMA’s 190 students have about three weeks to enroll at other District senior highs in time for their first day at a new school.