Charter School Abuses - 2013
The
list below summarizes 2013 news articles and government documents on charter school abuses. These
abuses are a direct and predictable consequence of lax regulation. In
some cases, the suggested reform that could prevent the reported
problems is also given.
This list is not comprehensive and more will be added.
This list is not comprehensive and more will be added.
August 23, 2013
School: Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (a.k.a. PA Cyber)
Article title: Feds charge Pa. cyber school founder with 11 counts of fraud, conspiracy
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (link)
Summary: Nick Trombetta, former CEO and founder of Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 11 counts of mail fraud, filing false tax returns and conspiracy.
School: Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (a.k.a. PA Cyber)
Article title: Feds charge Pa. cyber school founder with 11 counts of fraud, conspiracy
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (link)
Summary: Nick Trombetta, former CEO and founder of Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 11 counts of mail fraud, filing false tax returns and conspiracy.
August 13, 2013
School: Harambee Institute of Science and Technology Charter School, Philadelphia PA
Article title: Head of Charter School Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges
Source: FBI website (link)
Summary: Masai Skief, former CEO of Harambee Charter School, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of wire fraud. "First, Skief improperly withdrew $9,000 from the scholarship fund in order to purchase a house for himself in Philadelphia. Then, through his control of the bank accounts of Harambee Institute, Skief converted for his own personal use approximately $79,000 from Harambee Institute. Skief also made substantial efforts to conceal his illegal activities..."
Reforms needed: Government organizations charged with overseeing charter schools must be adequately staffed and legally empowered to exert competent oversight. Records of charter school finances should be easily accessible to the public.
School: Harambee Institute of Science and Technology Charter School, Philadelphia PA
Article title: Head of Charter School Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges
Source: FBI website (link)
Summary: Masai Skief, former CEO of Harambee Charter School, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of wire fraud. "First, Skief improperly withdrew $9,000 from the scholarship fund in order to purchase a house for himself in Philadelphia. Then, through his control of the bank accounts of Harambee Institute, Skief converted for his own personal use approximately $79,000 from Harambee Institute. Skief also made substantial efforts to conceal his illegal activities..."
Reforms needed: Government organizations charged with overseeing charter schools must be adequately staffed and legally empowered to exert competent oversight. Records of charter school finances should be easily accessible to the public.
April 5, 2013
School: Ivy Academia, Woodland Hills CA
Article title: Los Angeles charter school founders convicted of embezzlement
Source: KPCC 89.3
Summary: The couple who founded Ivy Academia charter school, Eugene Selivanov and Tatyana Berkovich, have been found guilty of 25 and 3 felonies, respectively, relating to the use of $200,000 in education tax dollars for personal use.
School: Ivy Academia, Woodland Hills CA
Article title: Los Angeles charter school founders convicted of embezzlement
Source: KPCC 89.3
Summary: The couple who founded Ivy Academia charter school, Eugene Selivanov and Tatyana Berkovich, have been found guilty of 25 and 3 felonies, respectively, relating to the use of $200,000 in education tax dollars for personal use.
January 28, 2013
School: Nia Community Public Charter School, Washington DC (charter revoked)
Article title: D.C. charter school founder charged with embezzling $29,000
Source: Washington Examiner
Summary: Monique Murdock, the school's co-founder and former executive director, has been charged in federal court with the theft of $29,000 in school funds.
School: Nia Community Public Charter School, Washington DC (charter revoked)
Article title: D.C. charter school founder charged with embezzling $29,000
Source: Washington Examiner
Summary: Monique Murdock, the school's co-founder and former executive director, has been charged in federal court with the theft of $29,000 in school funds.
January 26, 2013
Schools: Brighter Choice Charter Schools (chain), Albany NY
Article title: Charter school theft alleged Brighter Choice finance officer, with felony history, charged with embezzlement
Source: Albany Times-Union, Albany NY
Summary: Ronald A. Racela, former chief financial officer of the charter holder corporation for the chain of Brighter Choice Charter Schools in Albany NY, is charged with the embezzlement of $202,837. Racela had previously pleaded guilty to embezzling $53,931 from an Albany bank.
Reforms needed: Convicted felons should not be allowed to serve as officers of charter schools or their charter holder corporations. When education tax dollars going to a charter school are passed on to a charter holder corporation, educational services provider, or management corporation, that corporation must be subject to the same public records disclosure laws as the charter school itself.
Schools: Brighter Choice Charter Schools (chain), Albany NY
Article title: Charter school theft alleged Brighter Choice finance officer, with felony history, charged with embezzlement
Source: Albany Times-Union, Albany NY
Summary: Ronald A. Racela, former chief financial officer of the charter holder corporation for the chain of Brighter Choice Charter Schools in Albany NY, is charged with the embezzlement of $202,837. Racela had previously pleaded guilty to embezzling $53,931 from an Albany bank.
Reforms needed: Convicted felons should not be allowed to serve as officers of charter schools or their charter holder corporations. When education tax dollars going to a charter school are passed on to a charter holder corporation, educational services provider, or management corporation, that corporation must be subject to the same public records disclosure laws as the charter school itself.