 Sharon Higgins |
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Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School
“With Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School closing, Newark families must move on.” The Star-Ledger (NJ), 6/25/2013NEWARK — Bobby and Troy Shanks saw the handwriting on the wall last year with the Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School in Newark when federal officials filed a lawsuit against the school...The embattled charter school, opened in 2007 by longtime activist Fredrica Bey, had been on probatio
Atlanta Preparatory Academy
“Atlanta school board considers own police force.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA), 1/14/2013“... The board on Monday also decided the fate of Atlanta Preparatory Academy, voting 8-1 (Byron Amos dissenting) to follow Davis’ recommendation not to renew the charter of the school. APS executive director of innovation Allen Mueller told the board the school has underperformed academically and has f
Boys Preparatory Nashville
"Case of Boys Prep shows charter schools face same startup challenges." The City Paper (TN), 6/21/2013 Dozens of students have left the school. Parents have accused the executive director of assaulting two students. And although the year-end test scores have yet to be released, school leaders say they won’t be pretty...Rivalries within the leadership at the school shifted attention fro
Bradenton Charter School
“Manatee charter school scheduled to close.” News 13 (FL), 4/21/2013MANATEE COUNTY -- About 100 Manatee County students will need to find a new school for next year.After 13 years, the Bradenton Charter School is closing.Karen Carpenter Chair of the Manatee County School board said the school is closing because the school failed to meet standards particularly in the area of curriculum and governa
Citizens of the World Charter Schools
“Brooklyn Charter School Targets Rich, White Parents, Enrollment Plan Shows.” DNAinfo.com (NY), 4/23/2013BROOKLYN — If you want to be a citizen of the world, it helps to be rich.Though it's moving into a school where more than 90 percent of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, the controversial Los Angeles-based Citizens of the World Charterschool is actively recruiting affluent families f
Cleveland Academy of Scholarship Technology & Leadership Enterprise
“South Euclid man indicted on money laundering charges involving Cleveland charter school.” The News-Herald (OH), 8/11/2013Ten people, including a South Euclid man, from 13 companies were indicted Tuesday on multiple charges relating to the operation of a Cleveland charter high school. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said the 32-count indictment included charges of engaging in a pat
DaVinci Charter School
“DaVinci Charter School in Garden City to close Friday, impacting 130 students, 18 staff.” Idaho Statesman (ID), 2/19/2013Due to a budget shortfall, a charter school that has been operating in Garden City since the fall of 2006 will close its doors on Friday, school officials said. The DaVinci Charter School opened in 2006 as the Garden City Community School — the name was changed because some th
daVinci Institute
“Former da Vinci Institute teacher sentenced to five to 20 years inprison.” MLive.com (MI), 8/22/2012JACKSON, MI – A former da Vinci Institute teacher is going to prison for five to 20 years for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain sentenced Matthew Lusby, 28, Wednesday morning for first-degree criminal sexual conduct.Lusby pleaded guil
EPIC Academy Charter School
“Ex-basketball coach pleads not guilty to sex assault, wants lower bond.”FOX32, 3/12/2013==================================================================“Bond set for coach accused of student sex assault.” WLS-TV (IL), 1/25/2013January 25, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Bond has been set at $500,000 for a basketball coach at EPIC Academy Charter School in Chicago accused of sexually assaulting a 17-ye
Excel Leadership Academy, f.k.a. Life Skills Center of Palm Beach
“Charter school has day in court today to fight closure by school board.” The Palm Beach Post, 5/13/2013=============================================================== “West Palm Beach charter school appeals closure decision.” The Palm Beach Post (FL), 3/27/2013 A West Palm Beach charter school that the Palm Beach School District is trying to close has appealed, arguing the school district has no
Imagine School of North Port
“Imagine School fight ends; principal to leave.” Herald-Tribune (FL), 5/9/2013 NORTH PORT - The agreement came at 1 a.m. Thursday for the two sides fighting for Imagine School at North Port after nearly 16 hours of talks... It was an ending to the charter's contentious legal fight, which began in February when the North Port school tried to fire its parent company and become independent... In Feb
“Former teacher to stand trial for sex abuse of student.” ABC4 (UT), 5/14/2013FARMINGTON Utah (ABC 4 Utah) - A high school teacher will stand trial for sexually abusing a student.Steve Niedzwiecki was fired from his teaching position at a charter school in West Haven... Niedzwiecki was charged with eight counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of forcible sexual abuse and attempted rape.Niedzwiecki
Lee Alternative Charter High School
“Lee Alternative Charter shuts down in Lehigh.” Lehigh Acres Citizen (FL), 1/9/2013Most of the 149 students at the Lee Alternative Charter School, off of Taylor Lane in Lehigh Acres, are in classes in other schools in Fort Myers this week.The students and their parents were forced to find other schools because the Lehigh school, which was owned by Richard Milburn Academy Schools of Southwest Flor
Legacy Charter School
“Former Legacy principal: Charter violated procedure.” Idaho Press-Tribune (ID), 3/14/2013NAMPA — Former Legacy Charter School co-principal and teacher Monika Gangwer said she was fired after she blew the whistle on an effort to jump a student ahead on a post-lottery waiting list.A lawsuit, filed March 8 in Canyon County, names the school, Harbor School Method creator Rebecca Stallcop and Legacy
Eric Mahmoud charter schools
“Georgia file connects Twin Cities charter school, fraud scheme.” Star Tribune (MN), 3/22/2013When the news broke last summer that charter school entrepreneur Eric Mahmoud had entered a guilty plea to a mortgage fraud charge in Georgia, Mahmoud had a ready comeback for the Minneapolis school district, under whose authorization he was opening another charter school.“I assure you that this was a pe
YMCA Young Leaders Academy
“Milwaukee educator Ronn Johnson faces new child sex abuse charges.” Journal Sentinel (WI), 8/12/2013An ex-charter school leader in Milwaukee now faces 23 criminal charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of five children of varying ages from 1991 through last month, according to a revised criminal complaint filed Monday. Ronn Johnson, 46, who appeared Monday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Marcus Garvey Leadership Charter School
“Charter school teacher accused of molesting student.” KOCO (OK), 2/26/2013OKLAHOMA CITY —A teacher at a charter school in Oklahoma City has been accused of molesting a 14-year-old student, according to court documents.Pascal Wayne Jones, 42, of Edmond, has been charged with 10 counts of forcible oral sodomy, five counts of rape by instrumentation and 10 counts of lewd acts with a child under 16
Marcus Garvey Public Charter School
“School principal avoids jail sentence in assault on reporter, police.”Reporters Committee for Fredom of the Press, 11/3/1997WASHINGTON, D.C.--A Washington, D.C. charter school principal was sentenced in mid-October to two years' probation for assaulting a Washington Times reporter and two D.C. police officers. A D.C. Superior Court judge rejected the prosecutor's argument that Mary A.T. Anigbo,
Martin Behrman Charter School
“Algiers school coach, accused of statutory rape, now faces more serious allegation.”The Times-Picayune (LA), 2/6/2013An Algiers elementary school coach accused last week of the statutory rape of a studentis now facing a more serious allegation. Police suspect that Frank Norris, 23, began abusing the unidentified student in April 2010, when she was 11 and in the sixth grade; detectives booked him
Mosaica Education
“Charter Founder Profits; Students Struggle.” East Atlanta Patch (GA), 12/11/2012From its headquarters one block south of Wall Street, Mosaica Education claims to operate with a simple mission: “To empower students to learn and achieve – every child, every day.”This for-profit charter management company was founded in 1997 by Sandy Springs resident Gene Eidelman and has since expanded to a networ
New Century Academy
“Hutchinson student sex plea.” KNUJ (MN), 6/19/2013A former staff member at a Hutchinson charter school accused of having sex with students has pleaded guilty to 2 counts of criminal sexual conduct. 29-year-old Stephen Michael Noga avoided a jury trial with the plea. He was arrested at the New Century Charter School in Hutchinson in March after the allegations surfaced. He had allegedly been havi
New Designs Charter School
“New Designs Charter School teacher awaits arraignment on molestation charges.” KABC (CA), 4/27/2013LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An arraignment date has been set for the New Designs Charter School teacher accused of molesting three girls. Juan Cardoza, 55, is scheduled to appear in court May 15. He was arrested on Wednesday at his residence.Cardoza has been charged with four felony counts of committing
New Discoveries Montessori Academy
“Hutchinson student sex plea.” KNUJ (MN), 6/19/2013A former staff member at a Hutchinson charter school accused of having sex with students has pleaded guilty to 2 counts of criminal sexual conduct. 29-year-old Stephen Michael Noga avoided a jury trial with the plea. He was arrested at the New Century Charter School in Hutchinson in March after the allegations surfaced. He had allegedly been havi
New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy
“Military academy’s background check didn’t turn up employee’s prior theft charge.” The Lens (LA), 4/23/2013The man police are investigating for theft and fraud involving $31,000 in school funds has been accused of taking public education dollars before. Darrell K. Sims, 54, a former business manager at New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy in Algiers, was accused of misappropriating $1,642 f
Noble Network of Charter Schools
“Chicago charter schools rake in thousands in 'disciplinary fees.'” MSNBC, 1/3/2013As public funding for Chicago charter schools increases, so do questions about accountability and governance within these publicly-funded–but privately-run–institutions. According to the Chicago Public Schools’ 2013 budget, charter schools will receive nearly $483 million in funding, up more than 13% from funding i
Renaissance Academy
“Former charter school administrator arrested.” KTNV Las Vegas (NV), 4/9/2013Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A man at the center of a Contact 13 investigation is facing charges that he defrauded the state and stole $1.3 million tax dollars all under the guise of education. Chief investigator Darcy Spears first broke the story last July.For charter schools, more kids means more money.And it seems Roy Hard
Soldier Hollow Charter School
“Ex-principal pleads guilty to sexually abusing former student.” Deseret News (UT), 4/2/2013HEBER CITY — A former charter school principal pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually abusing a former male student. Charles Edward Weber, 66, pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony, in connection with the abuse of a 15-year-old boy. Four identical sodomy charges were dismissed
STEAM Academy
“STEAM Academy of Winston-Salem relinquishes charter.” Winston-Salem Journal (NC), 4/4/2013... The State Board of Education on Thursday accepted the voluntary relinquishment of the operating charter that allowed the STEAM Academy of Winston-Salem to operate.The Winston-Salem school has seen its enrollment plunge by more than 70 percent over the last seven years while the school's debts skyrockete
Union Academy Charter School
“Fort Mill woman accused of having sex with student.” WSOCTV (NC), 9/12/2013MONROE, N.C. A Union Academy Charter School teacher accused of having sex with a student was arrested Thursday afternoon. Diana Swanson Farnell is charged with one count of sex offenses with a student.Police said Farnell, 28, from Fort Mill, had sex with a 17-year-old male student...In February, a Union Academy basketball
University Preparatory Academy
“Pinellas: Students are leaving new charter school voluntarily.” Tampa Bay Times (FL), 9/11/2013 ... Dot Clark, the partnership schools coordinator for Pinellas, said that 23 children had been withdrawn from University Prep since the school year started. She interviewed 10 or 11 parents. "There was no one who said they were told to leave," Clark said. Instead, some parents felt their ch
White Pine Charter School
“Idaho Charter School Principal Resigns Following Burglary Arrest.” Boise Weekly (ID), 7/24/2012 The homepage of the White Pine Charter School in Ammon reports that Melinda Christensen has taken over as interim principal at the school in the wake of the resignation of Terry Rothamer. White Pine Charter's board of directors met in emergency session the afternoon of July 23 to consider its options
Joseph A. Craig Charter School
“Military academy’s background check didn’t turn up employee’s prior theft charge.” The Lens (LA), 4/23/2013The man police are investigating for theft and fraud involving $31,000 in school funds has been accused of taking public education dollars before. Darrell K. Sims, 54, a former business manager at New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy in Algiers, was accused of misappropriating $1,642 f
LEARN Charter School
“Ex-basketball coach pleads not guilty to sex assault, wants lower bond.” FOX32, 3/12/2013==================================================================“Bond set for coach accused of student sex assault.” WLS-TV (IL), 1/25/2013(CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Bond has been set at $500,000 for a basketball coach at EPIC Academy Charter School in Chicago accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old student h