The FUSE (Family Urban Schools of Excellence) charter organization was shaken by two high-level resignations, following the departure of its CEO Michael Sharpe. Sharpe quit after the press revealed that he had served time in prison and had used the title “Dr.” Though he had never earned a doctorate.
The Hartford Courant asked for information about FUSE’s finances, but got no response. FUSE runs three Jumoke charter schools and in April received permission to open a new charter in New Haven. It has also been authorized to open one or more charters in Louisiana. The Jumoke charter schools have received $53 million in public funds since 1998.
The Courant said:
“Charter schools are classified as public agencies under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. Public agencies are obligated by law to supply information and documents upon request in the same way that town and city school systems must do.
“Information that FUSE has declined to provide to The Courant this week includes:
•Whether Sharpe will receive a pension or other retirement benefits after leaving the top job that he said paid him $180,000 a year.
•A list of its employees and their salaries, which a public relations representative for the group said was “private information.”
•Any resume that Sharpe might have submitted, which could show what FUSE’s board of directors knew about his background and academic credentials when he was hired as CEO.
•Terms of a lease that Sharpe said he has for an apartment he’s been living in for “about $1,000″ a month at 852 Asylum Ave. in Hartford, a building owned by the Jumoke Academy charter schools organization in Hartford. Those schools are managed by FUSE.”
FUSE declined to provide any of this information. “FUSE has been saying this week that it is a private organization, distinct from the actual Jumoke charter schools.”
CRIMINALS – That’s what they are, and they need to pay.
And they are still passing out money to this fly by night organization…
There is more on this scam at http://jonathanpelto.com/tag/jumoke-academy/
How funny is that. The governor of the state can’t even get them to.open the books. He’s waiting to see if the contract allows him to see where the money went.
What a clown. Oh, well. I guess that’s what you get when you relinquish your role to private companies, lobbyists and foundations.
You become irrelevant.
This same thing happened in Ohio with White Hat.
There, it was charter school parents who were denied information on where public funding was going.
They argued that the CMO was a public entity so subject to sunshine laws.
They lost. It’s 2 years later and no one in the state has any idea where the money went, or goes now.
Governor Malloy could have visited any of a number of midwestern states to see first-hand how this deregulation fails before bringing it to Connecticut.
Ignoring FOI requests is standard operating procedure in CT, especially where education is concerned.
Very interesting. FUSE is apparently a 501c3 charitable organization, though none of their Form 990s are available on GuideStar (and no other information is available). As a 501c3, they must legally provide basic financial information (income statement, balance sheet, maybe other stuff) to anyone who asks. If they are not willing to do that, someone should call the IRS.
Even more curious is that their is no mention of their tax exempt status on their web site, even on their donation page. Inquiring minds want to know….
Actually, they must provide up to the last 3 years of Form 990s and all “supporting documents” aside from donor lists. I imagine that would include an income statement and balance sheet for the years covered by the 990s.
Don’t forget what Sharpe’s convictions were for: * forgery * embezzlement of over $100K This guy should never have been placed in charge of anything! He’s a thief! Repeatedly!
Guy Brandenburg Sent from my iPhone so full of hilarious errors… ;-€}}
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Sadly, as I write this, the Connecticut Post has still not “picked up” or written about this story. The last writing was about focusing on the gains made at the school.
http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/BOE-Don-t-squander-gains-made-at-Dunbar-5574203.php