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 February, Matthews and the local officials complained about paying hefty management fees with public tax dollars every year to the nonprofit company. The board voted to break off from Imagine Schools — one of the largest charter school companies in the nation — and run its own school, a move that the corporation viewed as a coup détat.

Almost immediately, Imagine Schools sued Matthews and the local board for more than $15,000 in Sarasota County Circuit Court and accused them of several charges, including breach of contract.

The high-profile legal battle was fused by multiple court hearings, back-and-forth contradictory emails to parents and a petition to support Matthews that supporters passed around the school parking lots...

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“All eyes on charter fallout.” WWSB ABC 7 (FL), 3/13/2013

SARASOTA COUNTY - Tuesday a judge ruled the principal of Imagine School in North Port could keep his job. However, it looks as though it will be a long fight over the future of the school.

Wednesday we talked to school board and legal experts who say the case moving forward may just impact the future of charter schools across the country.

The future of a local independent charter school and educating more than 1,000 children in it was in a court room this week. "It is not a healthy situation." The judge now suggesting the local school district get more involved. Sarasota County School Board member Caroline Zucker says it's a gray area. "There is no clear cut understanding of who owns what and who is responsible for what."

The fight between the Imagine parent company and the local governing board it appointed will likely continue through the court system. It may also have a bigger impact then just here...

As officials get ready for the upcoming year at Imagine School at North Port, its legal team will prepare for court...

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“North Port charter school breaks off from Imagine Schools.” Herald-Tribune (FL), 2/19/2013

... The drama comes after the local charter school's governing board voted unanimously last week to end its management contract with Imagine Schools, its out-of-state parent company.

“It looks like we're going to war with our former management company,” said principal Justin Matthews, who has led the school since it opened in 2008...

Matthews announced that the school's new name would be Sarasota Preparatory School...

But Imagine Schools isn't willing to let go so easily.

Within hours, the Virginia nonprofit had filed a lawsuit seeking more than $15,000 in Sarasota County Circuit Court.

The complaint says Matthews and the North Port school defamed Imagine Schools with their comments to parents, the School Board and the public.

Imagine Schools also alleges that Matthews violated his non-compete contract when he abandoned his post at Imagine School at North Port and created a rival institution...

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“Imagine School, North Point students arrested after gun found on campus.” WPTV (FL), 1/302013

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) -- Police arrested two students at school in North Port after a gun was found on campus.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune ( http://bit.ly/WPsZ6q0 reports officials were tipped off about the 9 mm handgun when a student told a teacher Tuesday afternoon at Imagine School...

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Legacy Charter School (Idaho)

“Former Legacy principal: Charter violated procedure.” Idaho Press-Tribune (ID), 3/14/2013

NAMPA — 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 Charter Board Chairman Bart McKnight.

The 21-page lawsuit says Gangwer refused to let the student, known as “Jane Doe,” attend the Legacy kindergarten class, even though Stallcop said the student should be admitted because of an error in the lottery process...

According to the lawsuit, Gangwer also had become concerned in early 2012 that Stallcop seemed to operate Legacy, Liberty and Victory charter schools as one, even though each school is a distinct and separate entity.

The complaint alleges that Stallcop illegally transferred money and property among the schools, without proper documentation or board approval...

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Antioch Charter Academy II

“East Bay teacher duct taped boy's mouth shut,claim alleges.” Contra Costa Times (CA), 2/20/2013

ANTIOCH -- The family of an 8-year-old boy filed a claim Tuesday alleging the boy's third-grade teacher duct-taped his mouth shut and that another teacher punished him by placing a chair over him and sitting on it in separate incidents earlier this school year.

Another student's hands were duct-taped by Antioch Charter Academy II teacher Michelle Mankewich in November, the claim alleges.

All four charter school employees who witnessed or learned of the November incidents failed to perform their mandated reporting duties and notify authorities about them, the claim alleges. The charter school principal -- the mother of one of the teachers alleged to have abused the boy -- conducted an internal investigation that found no wrongdoing.

"These are highly inappropriate forms of restraint on a student. It's abusive. I'd call it child abuse," said Larry Cook, the Walnut Creek attorney who filed the claim. "There's got to be other ways to control kids in a classroom."

The Antioch boy, through his mother Luvy Torres, filed the claim against the Antioch district, the charter school, The Learner-Centered School, Inc. (the nonprofit that operates the school), Mankewich, teacher Marianne Dubitsky, teacher Julie Fajeau and Principal Jeannie Dubitsky alleging they violated his constitutional rights, assaulted him and discriminated against him, among other charges. The boy's family seeks more than $10,000 in damages...

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The Project School

Bank foreclosing on former charter school property.” Indianapolis Business Journal (IN), 2/25/2013

Old National Bank is suing the operator of a charter school that closed last summer in Indianapolis, claiming it failed to pay off the $1.8 million balance on its mortgage.

The Project School in August lost a court battleto stay open after Mayor Greg Ballard revoked the school’s charter due to poor test scores and financial issues...

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“Ballard moves to shut down The Project School.” Indianapolis Business Journal (IN), 7/17/2012

It looks like there will be no back to school at The Project School, a charter school just northeast of downtown.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard announced Tuesday evening that he intends to revoke the charter that gives The Project School the authority to operate. Ballard cited poor test scores and “recently discovered financial problems.”

The four-year-old school, which is publicly funded, has never seen more than 30 percent of its students pass both the math and reading portions of the state standardized ISTEP test...

A notice of revocation sent to The Project School paints an ugly picture of the school's finances. It claims the school has run a deficit in each of the last three years and now has nearly $5.3 million in debt. The notice also states that The Project School delayed paying its staff this month by one week because it had so little cash on hand.

The notice of revocation also cited a report by the Indiana State Board of Accounts, which found that The Project School had improperly used more than $63,500 in federal facilities and planning grant money to pay salaries and operational expenses...

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Sherwood Charter School

“Sherwood parents intend to file claim against Sherwood Charter School.” The Oregonian (OR), 3/15/2013

Three parents of current and former students at Sherwood Charter School intend to file a tort claim against the school.

In a letter of intent dated March 15, the parents' attorney alleges the school board did not protect students against a fellow student's death threats, threats of sexual assault and violence...

According to the Oregon Department of Education, Sherwood School District and the charter school have not received substantiated complaints since 2008. However, a Sherwood family filed a federal lawsuit against the school district and another family in August 2011 claiming administrators failed to intervene in a bullying case...

Keith Halasy, a Sherwood Charter Board member, released a statement that said the school has appropriately handled student safety and discipline issues in contrast to "a mischaracterization of school process in recent news reports."...

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Baxter Academy of Technology and Science

“Portland charter school, ousted founder settle legal dispute.” Maine Sunday Telegram (ME), 4/10/2013

PORTLAND — Portland’s first charter school and its founder, who was fired by the board of directors, have settled their legal disputes, both parties announced Tuesday...

The school and Jaques voluntarily dismissed the legal dispute with prejudice, which means both parties agree not to file any further claims associated with the dispute...

The board of directors fired Jaques, who was serving as executive director, in March, citing a pattern of financial mismanagement. Jaques initially refused to relinquish control of some school assets online, and the school sued him to get the material. He complied but then countersued, claiming defamation, and sought punitive damages.

Jaques said the board fired him because a donor insisted on it. The donor confirmed that he wouldn’t have made a $250,000 donation if Jaques had remained as executive director...

Although the two sides have settled, there may still be a state investigation into the application process for Baxter Academy and other charter schools.

The dispute between Baxter officials and Jaques prompted Portland Mayor Michael Brennan to ask the Maine Attorney General’s Office to investigate the allegations of financial mismanagement and determine whether the Charter School Commission properly reviewed the school’s finances. Attorney General Janet Mills declined, saying she lacked the authority...

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Ricardo Flores Magon Academy

“Marcos Martinez, head of Ricardo Flores Magon Academy, resigns his post.” Denver Westword (CO), 3/8/2012

Marcos Martinez, the controversial founder of the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy and subject of our cover story "A Hard Line," has resigned. So, too, have two other employees whom the school's board of trustees asked to take a paid leave while they investigated complaints against them. The school is now searching for a new leader.

Meanwhile, it seems that Martinez is making moves in Wyoming.

Liberty's Torch, a monthly newspaper in Cheyenne, recently ran a story about Martinez's efforts to start a branch of the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy there.

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“Charter school chief rules with iron fist, say teachers.” Denver Westword (CO), 11/29/2011... 

Board minutes show that fifteen staff members — a good portion of whom were fired by [Marcos Martinez, the head of Ricardo Flores Magón Academy charter school in Westminster] for "not being a good fit" — left in the first four years of the school's existence.

Some of them say Martinez favored male staff members and those who were Hispanic. They say he also created an uncomfortable working environment.

Mitchell is suing Martinez and the school in U.S. District Court. She believes Martinez discriminated against her because she has a disability — asthma — that exacerbated her illness. Further, she believes Martinez treated her differently than other employees because although she herself is Latina, she's married to a white man.

Another former teacher filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming she'd been discriminated against because she was a woman, especially during and after her pregnancy. She settled with the school.

RFMA's problems don't end there, however. The school, which moved to a new location this fall, has also been criticized by state education officials for its high teacher turnover rate and its use of Che Guevara as a role model for young children. It has been slapped on the wrist by the county health department for not having hot water or a food-service license at its old facility and is embroiled in a lawsuit with its previous landlord...

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Tennessee Virtual Academy

“TN virtual school draws criticism.” The Tennessean (TN), 9/10/2012

As state officials lambaste the Tennessee Virtual Academyfor low achievement scores and discuss new oversight methods, the school’s management company is facing an investigation in Florida, overcoming a list of citations issued in Georgia and recovering from reports of poor results in many of its schools.

The virtual academy allows students in grades K-8 to take all their classes online, monitored by a certified teacher. It is managed by K12 Inc., a publicly traded for-profit company that has contracts for differing levels of involvement with at least 2,000 other schools across the nation.

In its first year, the Tennessee academy ranked among the bottom 4 percent of districts in the state on a measure that shows student progress from year to year.

State Rep. Joe Pitts, D-Clarksville, called the school “a risky experiment that blew up in our face.”...

However, Tennessee is not the only state where the management company has been criticized.

A research paper published in July by the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado Boulderrecommended national education officials slow down the approval of virtual schools while examining effectiveness and cost. The study showed achievement scores of K12 students were not on par with those of traditional schools.

A class-action lawsuit against K12 is pending in a U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia claiming the company made inflated claims about its student achievement in an effort to inflate stock prices...

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More at http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2012/09/tennessees-k12-inc-virtual-school.html?spref=tw

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Downtown Miami Charter School

“Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Assault At Charter School.” CBSMiami (FL), 7/2/2012

The Downtown Miami Charter School knew that a seven year-old student was being bullied and sexually abused by an 11 year-old student and failed to prevent it from recurring. That is the gist of a lawsuit filed Monday in Miami-Dade circuit court on behalf of “John Doe,” the alleged seven year-old victim...

According to the lawsuit the second grader was being bullied on the school bus, operated by Carmen Alvarez Bus Service, a private school bus company. The boy told his mother about the bullying, and she spoke to the bus driver.  The bullying continued however, according to the lawsuit, and in November, 2011, the fifth grader allegedly forced the younger boy to perform a sex act on him on the school bus...

The mother told Principal Rebecca Dinda about the incident. Dinda notified DCF and the police. The lawsuit alleges that the principal assured the mother the two boys would be separated and closely monitored.

According to the lawsuit, the bullying continued, and the younger boy was sexually abused by the older boy twice more in a school bathroom.

“A school has a duty to prevent what is called foreseeable harm from occurring to its students,” said attorney Jeffrey Herman who represents John Doe. “In this case we’re alleging that the school failed miserably.”...

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Victory Preparatory Academy

“No Fair, Teachers Tell Charter School.” Courthouse News Service, 7/18/2012

HOUSTON (CN) - A charter school fired three teachers "immediately" after they testified in a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency, the teachers claim in Harris County Court.

Charles Solaris, Sedalia Pippins and Randy Nichols sued Victory Prep Charter School and its Superintendent Reverend Lisa Berry Dockery. According to the complaint, Victory Prep is a public charter school in Houston, managed by Management Accountability Corp., which is not a party to the complaint.

The teachers say Victory Prep hired them in October 2010 after Texas shut down Benji's Special Education Academy, a Houston charter school for disabled students, amid allegations of mismanagement and missing state funds.

Victory Prep signed them all to 1-year contracts on Aug. 15, 2011 and fired them three days later, the teachers say.

"Plaintiffs are named parties in a federal lawsuit adverse to the Texas Education Agency, which was filed in or around October of 2010," according to the complaint. "Plaintiffs informed Karen Stewart, principal of defendant Victory Prep Charter School, that they were scheduled to give testimony at an administrative hearing on August 17, 2011.

"Plaintiffs gave principal Stewart notice of this obligation to testify because attending the hearing would cause them to miss a day of in-service.

"Principal Stewart, upon receiving notification from each plaintiff, approved each plaintiff to be absent on the August 17, 2011 in-service day without pay.

"Immediately upon returning to work after testifying, each plaintiff was called individually into the office of principal Karen Stewart. Once inside they were greeted by Superintendent Lisa Berry Dockery who fired each of them for missing the day of in-service to testify."

The teachers say they "were not offered an opportunity for a hearing or appeal" or given a termination letter, which they all requested.

They seek back pay and benefits for wrongful termination, interference with employment contract and due process violations...

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For background information about how these schools intertwine, see http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/HISD-taking-over-troubled-Benji-s-academy-1699948.php

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Mission Charter School

“A Fairly Strong Claim of Discrimination.” Courthouse News Service, 4/25/2012     

PHOENIX (CN) - A black, Jewish principal claims a charter school fired her after subjecting her to intolerable treatment: setting up a Holocaust exhibit outside her office, forcing her to walk past a swastika and "to go into the gas chamber in order to go into her office."

Millicient McNeil sued the Mission Charter School in Maricopa County Court.

She claims the school board ignored her complaints about the swastika in the hall, along with a photo of a lever used to drop chemicals into gas chambers, and the words "Majdanek Bad Und Desinfektion"-referring to the "bath and disinfection" gas chamber at the Majdanek concentration camp.

McNeil claims the school's conduct was "extreme and outrageous" and that it "either intended to cause emotional distress or recklessly disregarded the near certainty that such distress would result from the conduct."...

McNeil seeks $750,000 in general and compensatory damages, and $1.25 million in punitive damages, for breach of contract, wrongful termination, and negligent supervision, among other claims. She is represented by Lisa Aubuchon of Tempe.

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Mavericks High of Palm Beach County

“Audit claims Palm Springs charter school got nearly $160K more in state money by overstating enrollment.” Palm Beach Post (FL), 1/6/2013

A Palm Beach County charter school got nearly $160,000 more in state education money than it was entitled to receive after overstating 2011-12 enrollment, a draft audit released last week by the school district’s inspector general claims.

According to the draft audit from Inspector General Lung Chiu, Mavericks High School in Palm Springs counted and was given funds for at least 56 students who did not attend the school at all during two 11-day “survey periods” last year required by the state Department of Education. The survey periods are used to establish enrollment figures on which the department bases its per-student funding to schools.

Mavericks, a West Palm Beach-based chain of seven Florida charter schools, offers live and online classes and caters to at-risk students. It’s perhaps best known for its president and chief development officer, Frank Biden, brother of Vice President Joe Biden.

Chiu’s office began investigating the school after a former teacher — Angenora Mechato — filed a lawsuit in April alleging that Mavericks fabricates enrollment data and that she was fired for refusing to falsify records. Two teachers at the Mavericks school in Homestead have made similar allegations in lawsuits. The Miami attorney for all three teachers, Dale Morgado, could not be reached for comment...

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“Lawsuit alleges high school asked teacher to fabricate grades in classes students didn't take.” The Palm Beach Post, (FL), 4/14/2012  

PALM SPRINGS — A former teacher at the new Mavericks High School in Palm Springs has filed a lawsuit alleging that the school falsifies enrollment records and fabricates student grades in classes the students did not take.

The lawsuit, filed by Angenora Mechato, is the third such whistleblower lawsuit to be filed by former employees of the chain of Florida charter schools. The chain is run by a for-profit management company based in West Palm Beach, Mavericks In Education Florida LLC...

Mavericks' chain of schools has come under some scrutiny and controversy in recent months. The company has been turned down in bids to open more schools in Hernando and Hillsborough counties, and in February, the Palm Beach County School District denied applications for three new Mavericks schools here in Palm Beach County. District staff had recommended the denial, citing concerns regarding how effective other Mavericks schools have been in raising student achievement.

Mavericks offers a "blended" learning model that caters to at-risk students who might have dropped out or be in danger of dropping out. According to the schools, students spend part of their time in a traditional classroom and part of the time working independently on a computer doing assignments.

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“Principal at Mavericks High in Palm Springs Not Certified to Teach in Florida.”Broward-Palm Beach New Times (FL), 1/23/2012   

The principal of the Mavericks High charter school in Palm Springs is not certified to teach in Florida, according to the State Department of Education.

Thomas Lockett runs a school that serves roughly 500 at-risk students and promises to help them earn enough credits to graduate. Yet he does not have a teaching certificate or list any teaching experience on his LinkedIn online résumé. Prior to joining Mavericks last year, he was an account executive for home health-care and pharmaceutical companies. He also served six months as a regional director for  Revolution Prep, a test preparation and education software company...

One former Mavericks employee, who spoke to the Pulp on the condition of anonymity, says Lockett does not have a background in education and relies on other staffers for help. "He's clueless," the employee says...

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New Heights Academy

“Fired exec: Charter-school chief fudged books.” New York Post (NY), 3/21/2012

The founder of one of the city’s largest charters schools falsified financial records and okayed illegal construction work while serving as its principal, according to a whistleblower suit filed by a former school exec.

Stacy Winitt, executive director of the New Heights Academy in upper Manhattan, allegedly justified her shady practices by claiming her school was “too small to get caught,” court papers charge.

Former COO Gene Fisch Jr. says he was fired after warning two members of the board of directors “that submitting false numbers to the government based on fabricated and forged documents amounted to misappropriation of funds and that ‘someone could go to jail.’”

New Heights, which has about 760 students in grades 5 through 12, budgeted $888,000 in federal grants and $11.7 million in state grants last year, according to its annual report.

Fisch’s Manhattan federal court suit seeks unspecified damages, including twice his lost wages, for retaliation and breach of contract.

Fisch says he uncovered “serious financial misconduct” after being hired by New Heights in July 2008, and refused to sign off on its annual audit because “the numbers used for the audit were not credible.”

He also says Winitt ordered demolition work inside the building at 1818 Amsterdam Ave. without a permit, “with the intention not only to deliberately violate the law, but to do so deceitfully.”...

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Manatee School for the Arts

“US Department of Labor's OSHA sues Manatee School for the Arts for violating OSH Act whistleblower protection provisions; Employee of Palmetto, Fla., school allegedly fired for complaining about safety issues.” U.S. Department of Labor press release, 3/12/2012

PALMETTO, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has sued Renaissance Arts and Education Inc., doing business as Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto, to reinstate a former employee with full back wages and benefits. The lawsuit results from an OSHA investigation that found the privately-run charter school had unlawfully and intentionally terminated the worker's employment for voicing and reporting concerns regarding hazards in the school's two theaters – activities that are protected by the whistleblower protection provisions of Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

"Employees who identify safety and health concerns in the workplace are protected by the law, and when these rights are violated, OSHA will take action," said Cindy Coe, the agency's regional administrator in Atlanta. "We will not tolerate disregard for employees' safety and health or the violation of whistleblower protections."

On June 20, 2009, the employee submitted a letter to his direct supervisor that addressed alleged safety hazards, specifically, improperly placed extension cords and a lack of sprinkler systems. The school did not respond to the letter. On July 14, the employee filed a complaint with OSHA reporting the same concerns. After OSHA communicated with the school, on July 30, the employee disputed the school's response to the safety complaint, and the employee was notified that his position was being terminated. On Aug. 4, OSHA performed a safety inspection and cited the school for safety violations related to the employee's expressed concerns.

The Labor Department's suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, asks for an order that includes a permanent injunction against the school to prevent future violations of the OSH Act. It also seeks the reinstatement of the former employee with full benefits; payment of back wages, punitive damages and compensatory damages; removal of references to the matters at issue in this case from the employee's personnel file; and any other appropriate relief. The Labor Department's Regional Office of the Solicitor in Atlanta is representing OSHA in court.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of Section 11(c) of the OSH Act and 20 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various securities, trucking, airline, nuclear, pipeline, environmental, rail, maritime, health care, consumer product and food safety laws.

Under the various whistleblower provisions enacted by Congress, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who raise various protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government. Employees who believe they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor for an investigation by OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program. Detailed information on employee whistleblower rights, including fact sheets, is available online at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Jacksonville Area Office at 904-232-2895.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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Harmony Science Academy - Houston Northwest

“Texas Charter School Accused of Racism.” Courthouse News Service, 12/13/2012

HOUSTON (CN) - A Houston charter school made minority students clean toilets with toothbrushes, and a teacher told an 8-year-old student "she could not be in the front of the line .... because black people should be in the back of the line," her parents claim in Federal Court.

Darrel and Donna Davis sued the Harmony Science Academy NW, three of its teachers, its principal and assistant principal on behalf of their daughter, L.

The Davises say they "began to notice extreme moods of sadness and withdrawal from their daughter" in December 2010.

They say L "began to express horror at returning to Harmony Science Academy and that she wanted to transfer."..

The Davises claims the principal, Mr. Coban, "has acted with indifference and has had numerous complaints of discrimination towards minority, specifically a televised news piece that discovered that the teachers had minority students cleaning toilets with toothbrushes."

Houston's CBS affiliate KHOU 11 News broadcast a story in October in which a parent said the Harmony Science Academy NW punished her daughter, a fourth-grader, by making her clean toilets, baseboards and floors with a disinfectant wipe, and no gloves...

The Davises seek punitive damages for civil rights violations...

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“Outraged mother says daughter forced to scrub school toilets for tardies.” KHOU 11 News (TX), 10/5/2011

HOUSTON -- Parents of some students at the Harmony Science Academy Charter School in Northwest Harris County say their children were forced to clean restrooms as punishment.

Monica Lane said her daughter, Meagan, a fourth grade student at the school, was punished to Saturday school for getting five tardies. However, Lane said Meagan did not get not extra time in the classroom, but got time in the restroom.

"Yeah it was gross," said Meagan Dunn.

She was not alone, her mother said.

"Kids, as young as second grade, were scrubbing the toilets on Saturday," Lane said. "The baseboards and walls, and the door handles and the floors."

Meagan said the cleaning duties were done using just a disinfectant wipe and no gloves.

Administrators at the Harmony Science Academy issued a statement on the matter saying:

"Never under any circumstances is any student required or expected to clean the restrooms at any of our facilities."

The school said it encourages students to do chores to help them to care for their community. The school admitted that students did clean restrooms, but said it was just an inappropriate joke from a teacher taken literally by some students.

"How would you feel as a parent if your child was made to scrub the toilet without any kind of gloves, without any parent knowledge," Lane asked.

Beside the obvious cleanliness issues, Meagan’s parents wondered about the lost educational opportunity.

“That could have been a time for tutoring or going over some of the class work or something like that," said Lane.

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Pembridge Prep, Inc Charter School (attempt)

“Bradentonschool owner facing lawsuits applies for charter school.” WTSP News (FL), 8/11/2011

Built as a storage facility, the building at 7710 Cortez Road is being turned into what may be used as a school. The storage facility now has half a dozen classrooms and bathrooms for students up to 12th grade. The new school is the plan of Bradenton business man Hendrik Lamprecht. He's applied for a charter school with the Manatee County school district.

"He's not a man who is an educator never been a teacher if he's suppose to be finance man his proven track record shows he's not reliable," says Cheryl Gaynor, she's one of 13 teachers suing Lamprecht for 10's of thousands of dollars in back pay from their teaching days at the now foreclosed Bradenton Prep Academy. Gaynor says Lamprecht, who served as the school's CEO, owes her close to "$25,000."

Ten News has been following Lamprecht's financial troubles since last year. It began when Bradenton Prep Academy hired him to help the school fix its finances. Except former teachers like Gaynor say he made the problems worst. Bradenton Prep Academy foreclosed last summer. Lamprecht reportedly owed $1,000,000 in federal payroll taxes according to the IRS. He faced code enforcement and permitting issues, law suits from teachers, an investor, and parents for tuition refunds and playing football players over the age limit...

If approved by the Manatee County School Board, Lamprecht will open The Pembridge Prep, Inc Charter School in August 2012. This school would be for low performing students using a virtual school curriculum. Lamprecht would receive between $3,869 per student from state taxpayers. If approved, Lamprecht's projects having more than 900 students enrolled by the 5th year.

The charter application says Lamprecht's business Monolex USA Trading Limited will pay for all the building and development costs for the new school. The expenses break down like this according to the charter application: Rental, $13,500 per month, plus $665,000 for additional facilities, curriculum material and technology enhancement. The 665-thousand dollars from Monolex would also pay for $100,000 in renovations of a facility described as "church property" but an address is not indicated. He plans to use grand funding where available...

Ten News spoke with Hendrik Lamprecht over the telephone. He said the earliest he can speak with Ten News on camera would be the week of August 22nd. Even then he says he'll only talk about the charter school he wants to open up and not about any pending litigation. But the last time we set up a meeting with Lamprecht it did not go well.

In July of last year our photojournalist went to Bradenton Prep for a 10 a.m. scheduled interview Lamprecht was not happy to see us. The photographer says Lamprecht came up from behind and hit him over the head. Lamprecht apologized, but did not keep the interview. Ten News will try again later this month.

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More @ “Bradenton Prep investor wants charter school.” Bradenton Herald (FL), 8/11/2011

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/08/11/3412989/prep-investor-wants-to-start-charter.html

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Princeton House Charter School

“Princeton House charter faces second restraint lawsuit; Family says staff 'abused,' 'humiliated' and frightened their 6-year-old daughter, who was bruised while being restrained.” Orlando Sentinel (FL), 7/29/2011

Princeton House Charter School, which this spring settled a lawsuit alleging abuse of a student, has been sued by a second family.

In the new suit, two parents, identified only by their initials, say that their 6-year-old daughter was badly bruised while being restrained at the school in January and that she was grabbed and dragged by staff in November.

The Orlando school, which serves students with moderate to severe autism, in spring settled a 2010 suit that alleged a 15-year-old boy was injured by staff. A settlement of $74,465.74 was placed into a special-needs trust for Rose and Lawrence Casto's son, Christopher, and the parents were awarded an additional $20,000...

"They just abused my son, hiding behind the word 'restraint,'" Rose Casto said at the time. Restraint is a controversial practice of physically holding students with disabilities when they act out...

The new lawsuit, which was filed in federal court this month, also centers on the use of restraint.

In the January incident, the lawsuit alleges that the student suffered extensive bruising after a staff member pulled her sweater over the back of a special wooden chair. The chair, known as a Rifton chair, is intended to support and hold students who can't sit well on their own...

In the November incident, the same child was forced into a fabric tunnel, which made her panic, and later was dragged and forced onto a trampoline during a class activity, the lawsuit alleges. The suit says the staff at the school were not properly trained and that the school knew of "the unlawful abuse, restraint and seclusion of its special-needs students" and failed to act...

However, Daniel Cotter, an attorney for the girl's family, said the suit also aims to draw attention to what he called "systemic problems at this institution."...

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Linden Charter Academy

“Teacher wins $500K judgment in suit vs. Linden Charter Academy over firing because of racial joke.” Flint Journal (MI), 7/19/11

MT. MORRIS TOWNSHIP, Michigan — A charter school organization is weighing an appeal after a jury awarded more than $500,000 to a former Linden Charter Academy teacher who was fired for what his attorney said was a racial joke...

The school referred all comment to its parent company, the Grand Rapids-based National Heritage Academies...

Lenhoff said Hecht heard many black employees at Linden Charter Academy make racial jokes and that they were not punished.

Hecht had an excellent record on racial relations and had no prior record of any issues with the school, Lenhoff said.

According to the lawsuit, the teacher’s aide complained to the principal and Hecht was called into the office. Lenhoff said Hecht apologized to the teacher’s aide in the meeting...

Hecht, who had worked at the school for more than eight years, is now working as a machine operator at Dow Corning Corp. in Midland and has been unable to get hired for a teaching position.

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