She includes in her statement that she doesn't want to use intrusive regulatory oversight. To that I say maybe it's time someone did. Those schools are getting public taxpayer money. They need oversight. Her response makes clear that since she was asked by Missouri Baptist University, she would give her opinion.
Missouri’s Top Educator Tells Imagine Charter Schools to CloseIn response to a letter from Missouri Baptist University, Chris Nicastro wrote:
“We do not view it as the intent of the Missouri General Assembly that the department engage in intrusive regulatory oversight of charter schools, or to perform the administrative responsibilities of the sponsor. However, it appears from your public statement that MBU desires our recommendations in this matter. Let me be specific:
“1) Announce immediately that the Imagine charter schools will close at the end of the current school year.
“2) Work closely with the St. Louis Public Schools and other charter schools to ensure the smooth transition of students from Imagine to other public schools.
“The Department has provided as much technical assistance as current statutes and our current resources allow. Should you need additional assistance, please contact my office.”
It infuriates me to see how these schools are getting away with failing. Just think about all the times politicians who think they know all about education are butting in and saying to close failing public schools and turn them into charters. The whole thing is out of control.
Regulate now.
The blog above mentions the failing Imagine Schools in Florida, but the blogger points out that Imagine's owner Dennis Bakke is buddy buddy with Rick Scott. He is opening MORE Imagine Charter schools in Florida.
Rick Scott's buddy Dennis Bakke is building more Imagine Charters in FL though he has 3 failing ones now.It was reported here Sunday, that Imagine Schools CEO Dennis Bakke operates the failing and financially challenged charter school in West Melbourne. It seems thats not the only failing school Bakke runs. There are two other F schools - both in North Lauderdale.
Bakke was on Rick Scott’s education transition team and likely played a role in establishing a legislative agenda which would be friendly to charters. One piece of legislation now allows charter school operators to go over the head of local school boards to the state when they are rejected. One such action is taking place now in Seminole County. KIPP has already signaled they will be doing the same if they are rejected in Jacksonville.
Here is more about those failing charters.
Failing Melbourne charter schoolAn Imagine charter school in Melbourne, Florida, got an F grade last year. The school is in trouble not just over grades but over financial struggles.
Many of the problems are due to the involvement of the Imagine school's management company in profiting from real estate. Its real estate arm is called Schoolhouse Finance. There is another company involved called Entertainment Properties Trust. Profit for everyone?Failure not an option for Imagine charter
"One of Brevard’s original charter schools is undergoing an intensive effort to improve this year after it received an “F” school grade — a damaging assessment that parents blame on staff turnover, classroom disruptions and student behavioral issues last year.
Recently Seattle Today had a damaging expose' of how Imagine Charters have a complex web of real estate transactions.
Imagine schools' real estate deals fuel company growthWhen students first entered Imagine Academy of Academic Success four years ago, their school was already entangled in a complex series of real estate deals — ones that would divert dollars from their education.
By the time they were on their first summer break, their brown brick building at 1409 East Linton Avenue had been sold three times, the final price nearly 10 times higher than the first. In the process, the company running the school — along with a small group of other players — cashed in.
Imagine Schools Inc., the nation's largest charter school operator, runs six charter schools in St. Louis. Together, their performance on state standardized exams is worse than any school district in Missouri.
Nevertheless, those schools are generating millions of dollars for Imagine and a Kansas City-based real estate investment company through real estate arrangements ultimately supported with public education money.
The head of the Entertainment Properties Trust told the truth about what they are doing. They are going to make public charters schools
hugely profitable to them.“We are excited to add to our public charter school portfolio and enthusiastic about the prospects of Imagine and this investment category,” Entertainment Properties Trust CEO David Brain said in a release.
In an interview, Brain said the Imagine Schools transaction announced Friday fulfilled Entertainment Properties’ 2007 commitment to make at least $200 million worth of acquisitions from Imagine. It also increases Entertainment Properties’ footprint in what Brain called “a huge new category” for private real estate investment.
“Public charter schools are now a 4 or 5 percent slice of a couple trillion dollar public education real estate market,” Brain said.
For too long public schools have not been profit making for such corporations. Now they are fixing that. Imagine Schools just happen to have a head start.
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