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Summit Academy Management, based in Akron, has conflicts in Cincinnati, Columbus, report says
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Apr 17, 2009
Two state audits released Thursday found significant accounting problems with two schools run by Akron-based Summit Academy Management, one of the state's largest charter school operators.
The audits come during an administrative overhaul of the nonprofit that included the resignation of CEO Peter DiMezza last month and fiscal reforms regarding the timely payment of payroll and vendors.
Charter schools are privately operated schools that receive state public funding based on enrollment and other factors. Summit Academy Management operates 27 charter schools in Ohio serving mostly children with special needs.
The audits of the Summit Academy Transition High School in Columbus and the Summit Academy Community School of Cincinnati revealed discrepancies between the schools' own attendance records and the enrollment figures reported to the state to determine funding.
The Columbus high school's records showed higher enrollment in one month than the state credited when figuring how much money the school should receive.
The Summit Academy in Cincinnati had the reverse problem, getting credit from the state for more students than its own records showed were enrolled.
No school board
The Columbus high school, which opened in September 2007, also failed to maintain a five-member school board and operated with no school board for the rest of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, after the members all resigned May 6, 2008. It also overpaid sponsorship fees by about $1,500.
Charter schools, which receive state education funding passed through the district in which their students live, must have a state sponsor to operate.
The state authorizes that sponsor to oversee the schools, to collect the fees for that oversight and to suspend operations or cancel contracts if necessary.
The Lucas County Educational Service Center sponsors 24 of the 27 schools Summit Academy Management operates throughout the state, including the Cincinnati school. Kids Count of Dayton sponsors the other three, including Summit Academy Transition in Columbus.
Both audited schools pledged to keep more accurate attendance information, according to the audits. The Columbus school has appointed new board members and has worked out arrangements with its sponsor to recoup the overpayment.
Inadvertent overpayment
Kids Count Director Ethel Washington-Harris said the overpayment of fees from Summit's Columbus high school was inadvertent.
Lucas County ESC has called for broad fiscal and administrative reforms at Summit Academy Management and is currently reviewing a corrective action plan that included the resignation of founder DiMezza as CEO last month.
Washington-Harris said the problems that Lucas County ESC identified with the 24 Summit Academy schools it sponsors have not been issues at the three schools Kids Count sponsors.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Two state audits released Thursday found significant accounting problems with two schools run by Akron-based Summit Academy Management, one of the state's largest charter school operators.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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AKRON, OH
Posted 10:28 AM, 04/17/2009
No surprise here. They should close all Charter Schools.
Make the world a better place... punch a Steeler fan in the face, .
Posted 12:23 PM, 04/17/2009
Just my opinion,
Yeah, these kids should thrive under the apathetic teachers in the public schools (why they left in the first place, no?). Not to steal Don's line, but there is a special place in hell for those who actively seek the under-education of special needs kids. Hope you packed light.
Posted 12:49 AM, 04/18/2009
some charter school teachers are better educated than regular school teachers and should not be black-listed for teaching at a charter school! they need a job like everyone else and really want to help students improve their educational abilities.give them a break!!!
