Jonathan Pelto blows the whistle on Steve Perry’s expansion plans, which Pelto says are illegal under Connecticut law.
Perry is principal of Capital Prep Magnet School in Hartford. He has received permission from the state Board of Education to open a charter in Bridgeport and from Néw York’s Board of Regents to open a charter in Harlem. He will remain principal of the public magnet school in Hartford and will use materials and personnel from the public school for the charters.
Pelto writes:
“The proposals for both schools openly admitted that the plans were based on Capital Prep Magnet School in Hartford, that the materials used will be the same as those used at Capital Prep Magnet School and the management team that will run the Bridgeport and Harlem charter schools will be the same group of senior administrators and teachers that are presently running Capital Prep Magnet School in Hartford.
“The proposals even included many of the written materials that can be found on Capital Prep Magnet School’s present website.
“But of course, Steve Perry and his team know perfectly well that such a move is blatantly illegal.
“The law is very clear, materials and concepts developed by public employees during the course of their work belong to their employer – the government that pays them and its citizens.”
Pelto says:
“Perry will collect $2.5 million per year for the first five years as a charter operator.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I thought Eva Moskowitz had the monopoly on charter schools in Harlem. Will she not put up a fight?
You know what this is tantamount to? Opening a side business, lets say a realtor’s “office” but in order to do it, stealing paper and supplies, etc., from one’s employer; and using their phone and printer and copier, etc. while on the job. That would be wrong — ya think?
Steve Perry operates with the mind of a thief–don’t most of the profiting charterizers operate with that same mindset?
LikeLike
Donna, there are many charters in Harlem, not just Eva’s.
LikeLike
Diane…it was sarcasm 🙂 Eva is a steamroller…she rolls all over town.
LikeLike
Kudos to Jon for rapidly challenging this illegal act. See too much of this happening without any reporting. Shows either Parry’s arrogance thinking this could slip by, or his inept action in not knowing the law. Either way, Jon sets a good example for us all to keep close watch for this kind of attempted end run around the law.
LikeLike