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Close Ida B. Wells

For how long must a charter school fail?

The Ida B. Wells Academy must close. The charter school on Copley Road in Akron has had months, even years, to get its academic and financial house in order. It has failed to do so, the most recent indication coming in an article by John Higgins, a Beacon Journal staff writer, in Saturday's newspaper. When the school proved slow to pay its employees last week, teachers pointed to deeper problems. They cited milk routinely spoiling in a malfunctioning refrigerator, an infestation of centipedes and other insects, plus students receiving pizza for lunch because the school failed to pay its caterer.

All of this reflects a disturbing pattern at the school for kindergarten through fifth grade.

A year ago, the school's sponsor, the Richland Academy of the Arts in Mansfield, put Ida B. Wells on probation, giving the school six months to repair glaring financial and administrative problems. The troubles included the Akron Police Department having been called to the school to calm disputes between staff members and Kofi Khemet, the school's educational leader.

The Richland deadline stretched to June, and then July. By August, on the eve of the school year, Richland reported substantial improvement. The finances were no longer ''unauditable.'' The source of the disputes had been addressed. The school moved to an improved location. The sponsor spoke hopefully about 70 students enrolling at Ida B. Wells, far from the peak of 134 yet (according to Richland) enough students to achieve financial stability.

The events of last week suggest the school prone still to troubling ways. It remains in debt, and most telling, it lacks sufficient enrollment, with just 40 students. Charter school advocates often explain to those in charge of public schools the significance of parents and students voting with their feet. According to that standard, Ida B. Wells has been a huge failure, losing 70 percent of its enrollment.

Many charter schools perform effectively. If anything, they should stand front and center urging the state to crack down on those charter schools that do not measure up, or even come close. Ida B. Wells has had time enough. Its students deserve better.

The Ida B. Wells Academy must close. The charter school on Copley Road in Akron has had months, even years, to get its academic and financial house in order. It has failed to do so, the most recent indication coming in an article by John Higgins, a Beacon Journal staff writer, in Saturday's newspaper. When the school proved slow to pay its employees last week, teachers pointed to deeper problems. They cited milk routinely spoiling in a malfunctioning refrigerator, an infestation of centipedes and other insects, plus students receiving pizza for lunch because the school failed to pay its caterer.

Get the full article here.


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