summer_18

ADVOCATING

4 CEA ADVISOR SUMMER 2018

CMOs SPELL TROUBLE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION Charter management organizations continue to flout the rules; CEA demands action CEA Helps Teachers File Unfair Labor Practice, Remove Manchester Charter School Principal for Alleged Sexual Harassment Union calls for stronger oversight, actions against negligent charter officials Nearly three years after

complaints until CEA got involved. The state must now investigate the actions of both the trustees and administrators for their complicity in the case, abject disregard for teachers’ well-being and safety, and not interceding to address or resolve the situation,” said Williams. Teachers notified the SDE of unethical behavior, including sexual

language program • offsetting local property taxes for desperately needed renovations at the high school Not an isolated problem The number of charter schools has increased over the last ten years, and management fees ahead of children’s classroom learning. In fiscal 2016- 2017, the state spent more than $7 million on charter school management fees that did not support students or their education. At the same time, an additional $45 million was spent by the state on charter school construction, renovation, and expansion, while statewide K-12 enrollment has declined and school districts have closed school buildings. “Corporate-run charter schools have made it difficult to account for and follow taxpayer funding,” said Williams. “This is unacceptable and makes no sense. The state must require transparency and hold charter schools to the same standards as traditional public schools. Where public funding goes, public accountability must follow.” fact that they receive state funding,” Williams adds. Several years ago, after an investigation at Jumoke Academy Charter School in Hartford turned up ineffective oversight of the school and its CMO, the state was required to provide systemic oversight for state charters. But continued offenses at Odyssey, Path Academy, and multiple other charter schools run by CMOs demonstrate that little has changed. CEA is calling on the state to create effective oversight to hold charter schools accountable for their actions. “These are serious problems that affect students, teachers, parents and communities, and they cannot be allowed to continue. The state must step up and demand accountability and transparency of all charter schools,” said Williams, “or state funding should be withheld.” CEA continues to monitor CMO- run charter schools and to battle back against their unchecked growth, which compromises public schools as well as students who attend CMO-run charters. CEA staff and members frequently testify at State Board of Education meetings about lower teacher standards and unfair treatment at CMO-run charters, practices that discriminate against English learners and other students, and financial indiscretions. many are run by corporate organizations that put high

are allowed to operate under different rules from other public schools. “Despite receiving millions of dollars in state education funding, these schools are given more latitude than traditional public schools,” says Williams. In traditional schools, he notes, action is taken swiftly in cases of administrator misconduct. Charter

complaints were brought forth about an alleged culture of abuse of power, sexual harassment, bullying, and other unprofessional conduct by the former principal of Odyssey Community Charter School in Manchester, the State Department of Education began proceedings against Christopher Bugbee. Bugbee reached an agreement with the SDE “While we are pleased that action has finally been taken in this case,” said CEA Executive Director Donald Williams, “it is inconceivable that it took three years to address serious reports from teachers victimized by the shocking actions of the school principal. The state must do more to protect our educators, 70 percent of whom are women, from any reported sexual harassment and abuse inflicted upon them.” Known problems As early as 2015, complaints of alleged discriminatory practices and other unethical behaviors were brought to the attention of Odyssey’s then- executive director and president of its board of trustees. Teachers say their complaints against Bugbee fell on deaf ears until they reached out to CEA. “It is outrageous that the Odyssey School Board of Trustees and administrators knew about the problems but ignored these serious to surrender his teacher and administrator certification. After the State Department of Education began the process of revoking the charter for Path Academy Charter School in Windham and its charter management organization (CMO), Our Piece of the Pie, Path Academy voluntarily surrendered its charter. The SDE uncovered shocking practices that included defrauding the state of nearly $2 million, billing the state for 128 phantom students, operating two unauthorized satellite schools, and tolerating excessive absenteeism. On June 19, the school was given one month to submit a proposal to address these deep- seated problems and continue operating—a scenario that State Board of Education Chairman Allan Taylor acknowledged was unlikely. “Unfortunately, closing down Path Academy is the beginning, not the end, of what is needed,” said CEA Executive Director Donald Williams. “The legislature must pass stronger laws that govern charter school management companies to ensure that they follow the law.” Of the students who actually attended Path Academy, 65 percent were absent 50 or more days, and 33 percent were absent 100 or more days, according to an SDE report.

“The Odyssey School Board of Trustees and administrators knew about the problems but ignored these serious complaints until CEA got involved.” Donald Williams, CEA Executive Director

harassment complaints against Bugbee, in May 2016. In July, CEA assisted teachers in filing an unfair labor practice with the State Board of Labor Relations, and in early August 2016, CEA provided the SDE with the teachers’ request for the revocation of Bugbee’s teacher/ administrator certificate, along with supporting sworn affidavits. “This is gross misconduct by the charter trustees and administrators, who knowingly disregarded the endless reports of misconduct, sexual harassment, and other inappropriate behavior by the school principal,” Williams said. He called the Odyssey case a sign of a larger, more systemic problem— the lack of transparency and oversight at charter schools, which

schools, he adds, must be held to the same standards. Patterns of abuse Indeed, unscrupulous activities are not unique to Odyssey. Just last month, the State Board of Education began revocation proceedings for Path Academy in Windham and its charter management organization, Our Piece of the Pie, after reports found blatant misconduct, including defrauding the state of nearly $1.6 million, billing the state for 128 students not enrolled in the school, operating unauthorized schools, and excessive absenteeism. (See story below.) “These are not single incidents but a troubling trend among charter schools able to dodge often lax reporting requirements despite the

Charter School Bilks State, Cheats Students – Set to Close Path Academy surrenders charter after Department of Education begins revocation proceedings

Path Academy charter school in Windham surrendered its charter after serious problems, including chronic student absenteeism and the misuse of millions of public dollars, came to light.

One hundred percent of Path’s students met the legal definition of “chronically absent.” Path Academy gained access to public education dollars because of its mission to help students with challenging life circumstances. Unfortunately, the school failed both its students and the state. The SDE is now working to place Path Academy’s students in new schools. A breach of public trust Testifying at a State Board of Education hearing in June, CEA’s Orlando Rodriguez said, “This was a breach of public trust and a failure to meet the most basic fiduciary duties that all public schools have: to spend education dollars on their intended

purposes and to the benefit of students. This board cannot overlook the egregious lack of accountability at Path Academy by both its administrative staff and board of governance.” Rodriguez and Williams also pointed out that the $2 million collected by Path Academy could have funded any number of worthy education initiatives overseen by the Windham Board of Education, such as • expanding before-and-after-school programs • expanding the Puentes al Futuro (Bridges to the Future) program • increasing enrollment to the much-admired Compañeros dual-