Sunday, December 19, 2010

Funds misuse, nepotism feared at Texas charter schools | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Funds misuse, nepotism feared at Texas charter schools | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Funds misuse, nepotism feared at Texas charter schools

12:59 AM CST on Sunday, December 19, 2010

By HOLLY K. HACKER / The Dallas Morning News
hhacker@dallasnews.com

Last in an occasional series.

Focus Learning Academy, a charter school tucked in a strip mall in Dallas' Red Bird area, takes pride in teaching students with learning disabilities. For founder and Superintendent Leroy McClure, whose brother struggled with a learning disability, it's a personal mission.

McClure earns $146,000 to run the school of about 700 students, about $50,000 more than the typical superintendent of a traditional Texas school district that size.

In addition, McClure's wife, Yvette, receives $100,000 from the school for consulting work and sits on the school board. His brother serves as Focus Academy's facilities manager, and his sister is a teacher there.

Focus demonstrates the hope for charter