tucker
09-12-2006, 10:18 PM
The Tuslaw Board of Education named retired Mssillon City Schools administrator Ron Green to fill a vacancy on their board. Sounds like a good decision to put an experienced educator on the board except for one tiny little
thing.
This gentleman now works for Dave Brennan's White Hat group out of Akron, which sucks up taxpayer dollars to operate under-achieving charter schools that evade state reporting requirements.
Regardless of how you feel about public vs charter schools, what is a public school system thinking when it puts a paid competitor for students and tax dollars on it's own board? Especially this particular charter school outfit?
Surely there was another candidate from local community who would have been a better watchdog for the local district and the local kids rather than someone new to the district, with ties to an aggressive and questionable competitor.
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
By PAUL E. KOSTYU COPLEY COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS - A teachers’ union official said an Akron-based company has turned its charter schools “into a chain of company stores” that invests little in staff and students “while maximizing profits.”
Tom Mooney, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, released the results of an 82-page report Tuesday that examined David Brennan’s White Hat Management, the largest charter school company in Ohio. Mooney said White Hat violates state law, which requires charter schools to be nonprofit and to be governed by independent school boards.
He said neither happens at White Hat-managed schools because board members are “hand-picked” by Brennan. He said some people serve on as many as 17 charter boards.
Mooney questioned why the Ohio Department of Education or state Auditor Betty Montgomery have not investigated White Hat’s charter schools.
J.C. Benton, a spokesman for the department, said the state does not have a direct relationship with White Hat.
“White Hat Management handles the day-to-day operations of the schools,” Benton said. “I’m not going to defend David Brennan’s schools.
Mooney said the charter schools have no choice but to spend their money with White Hat because Brennan has set up an elaborate system of companies to make White Hat the sole vendor of services.
Mooney said Brennan contributed to the campaigns of Republicans who wrote the state’s charter schools law, as well as to Montgomery.
In its 84-page study of White Hat Management, the Ohio Federation of Teachers contends:
-- The Akron-based company operates charter schools that are neither independent nor nonprofit as required by Ohio law.
-- Sponsors of White Hat schools have ties to the company as do their boards of directors.
-- David Brennan, owner of White Hat Management, influenced charter-school legislation favorable to his company by making large campaign contributions to Ohio House Republicans.
-- Brennan created multiple companies so White Hat can be the sole vendor for its charter schools.
-- White Hat’s business model maximizes profits and avoids public scrutiny of its use of public funds.
-- State Auditor Betty Montgomery and her predecessor, Jim Petro, have not challenged White Hat’s business arrangement to track taxpayers’ dollars. Both received campaign contributions from the Brennan family.
-- Three private schools were converted to charter schools, which is barred by state law.
-- A current registering agent for White Hat charter schools was convicted and sentenced on several federal racketeering charges.
-- Brennan is motivated by profit, not helping children, and does so by following a Wal-Mart business model.
Source: http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=273523&Category=9
Report: OFT
thing.
This gentleman now works for Dave Brennan's White Hat group out of Akron, which sucks up taxpayer dollars to operate under-achieving charter schools that evade state reporting requirements.
Regardless of how you feel about public vs charter schools, what is a public school system thinking when it puts a paid competitor for students and tax dollars on it's own board? Especially this particular charter school outfit?
Surely there was another candidate from local community who would have been a better watchdog for the local district and the local kids rather than someone new to the district, with ties to an aggressive and questionable competitor.
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
By PAUL E. KOSTYU COPLEY COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS - A teachers’ union official said an Akron-based company has turned its charter schools “into a chain of company stores” that invests little in staff and students “while maximizing profits.”
Tom Mooney, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, released the results of an 82-page report Tuesday that examined David Brennan’s White Hat Management, the largest charter school company in Ohio. Mooney said White Hat violates state law, which requires charter schools to be nonprofit and to be governed by independent school boards.
He said neither happens at White Hat-managed schools because board members are “hand-picked” by Brennan. He said some people serve on as many as 17 charter boards.
Mooney questioned why the Ohio Department of Education or state Auditor Betty Montgomery have not investigated White Hat’s charter schools.
J.C. Benton, a spokesman for the department, said the state does not have a direct relationship with White Hat.
“White Hat Management handles the day-to-day operations of the schools,” Benton said. “I’m not going to defend David Brennan’s schools.
Mooney said the charter schools have no choice but to spend their money with White Hat because Brennan has set up an elaborate system of companies to make White Hat the sole vendor of services.
Mooney said Brennan contributed to the campaigns of Republicans who wrote the state’s charter schools law, as well as to Montgomery.
In its 84-page study of White Hat Management, the Ohio Federation of Teachers contends:
-- The Akron-based company operates charter schools that are neither independent nor nonprofit as required by Ohio law.
-- Sponsors of White Hat schools have ties to the company as do their boards of directors.
-- David Brennan, owner of White Hat Management, influenced charter-school legislation favorable to his company by making large campaign contributions to Ohio House Republicans.
-- Brennan created multiple companies so White Hat can be the sole vendor for its charter schools.
-- White Hat’s business model maximizes profits and avoids public scrutiny of its use of public funds.
-- State Auditor Betty Montgomery and her predecessor, Jim Petro, have not challenged White Hat’s business arrangement to track taxpayers’ dollars. Both received campaign contributions from the Brennan family.
-- Three private schools were converted to charter schools, which is barred by state law.
-- A current registering agent for White Hat charter schools was convicted and sentenced on several federal racketeering charges.
-- Brennan is motivated by profit, not helping children, and does so by following a Wal-Mart business model.
Source: http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=273523&Category=9
Report: OFT