General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Big Victory in the Fight Against Charter Schools
http://www.alternet.org/education/north-carolina-charter-school-chain-administrator-salaries-cannot-be-kept-secretThe North Carolina State Board of Education has issued a warning to a charter-school chain for failing to comply with an agency order to disclose the salaries of school administrators. The schools have been put on "financial probationary status," which could lead to sanctions if their board does not comply within 10 business days.
This is the same charter-school chain, Charter Day School, Inc., that ProPublica wrote about last month. As we reported, the four charter schools channel millions in public education dollars each year to for-profit companies owned by the schools' founder, businessman Baker Mitchell. One of the for-profit companies, Roger Bacon Academy, is paid to run all the day-to-day operations of the schools. As we wrote:
Roger Bacon Academy functions as the schools' administrative arm, taking the lead in hiring and firing school staff.
It handles most of the bookkeeping. The treasurer of the nonprofit that controls the four schools is also t he chief financial officer of Mitchell's management company. The two organizations even share a bank account.
Mitchell's management company was chosen by the schools' nonprofit board, which Mitchell was on at the time an arrangement that is illegal in many other states.
Charter schools, which are privately run but government-funded, often outsource back-office functions to private companies. At issue between North Carolina and Mitchell's charter-school chain is the extent to which regulators can demand to know what happens to public dollars once they move into the coffers of a private company.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)If they are so determined to start a charter school (privately owned), then they should have enough confidence to finance their own operation. Public schools are available to them, but if they opt for private...pay for them.
I can't believe some of the stories I've heard/read about some of these charter schools and the money family members, friends, business associates have pulled off the top. I had a relative that worked for a pre-school operation that was funded by the government and they had the spouse and mother-in-law drawing salaries, as well as charging the school for beauty shop fees, clothing and long vacations. They've been caught, but are in the long legal process. It's a racket.
Qutzupalotl
(14,311 posts)the first thing you do is skim money off the top.