A state audit concluded that three Gulen charters—associated with the Turkish imam Fethullah Gulen—are wasting $3 million a year by leasing their schools’ space.
You will not be surprised to learn that the three schools are leasing the buildings from a Gulen-related company called Terra.
“SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A group of science-focused, tuition-free, taxpayer-funded charter schools in Central New York could save nearly $3 million by purchasing and renovating buildings instead of leasing, according to a state audit.
“The Science Academies of New York (SANY) Charter Schools, which has school buildings in Onondaga and Oneida counties, failed to analyze purchasing options before deciding to lease buildings, according to the New York State Comptroller’s Office.
“Auditors estimate the school could have saved nearly $3 million over the 15-year terms of the leases by purchasing and renovating the four buildings acquired between July 2014 and July 2017 rather than leasing them.
“The charter school group leases its schools from Terra Science and Education Incorporated (Terra), a non-profit organization created to support SANY schools.
“Three schools chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and funded by taxpayers merged in July 2017 to become SANY. Those schools are the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, Utica Academy of Science Charter School and Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship Charter School.
“Each school was originally a stand-alone entity and now operates under the same management team. SANY’s current budget is $21.6 million. The schools employs 249 people and have 1,593 students, according to the state.”
A comment that follows the article:
“This is money laundering 101 at the taxpayers expense…Terra Science owns the buildings but SANY still has to lease it. But hears the kicker they are the same company…so they launder the money to themselves and they take tax payer money and send it back to Turkey to their families. Even if you are anti teacher this should make your blood boil…just ask New Orleans!”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Sickening.
“The charter school group leases its schools from Terra Science and Education Incorporated (Terra), a non-profit organization created to support SANY schools.”
It also shows, once again, that “nonprofit” doesn’t mean anything in charterworld.
It’s like a growing snowball rolling down the side of a mountain and by the time it reaches the bottom, it is an avalanche that will destroy everything in its path.
It being charter schools?
Yes, “It” like the monster in the film. Corporate Charter Schools are that “It”.
Good! I wasn’t sure if you might have meant cousin It of the Addams Family.
I’m not allowed to order tissues for my classroom b/c they are not ‘educational’ supplies.
I hope you are in good standing with the custodians. I never bought tissues, I just had the custodian bring me a roll of toilet paper to use as tissues.
Tsk,tsk Duane–greedy teacher!!!
That’s probably why they have no toilet paper in the Chicago Public Schools!!!
Also–good point about being “in good standing” w/the custodians. One of the first things those preparing for teaching careers should learn in college. The majority of custodial staff (& I made friends w/them all–all great people) were so smart that I thought she/he should be superintendent. Anyway, yes, a teacher who befriends maintenance personnel gets EVERYTHING she/he asks for–& first!
Also, you’ll have the cleanest room in the school.
Unless, of course, your district contracts out to Magic/Sodexho/Aramark (recent newspaper stories about lack of personnel, but increase in filth, bugs & rodents in CPS). Mind you, I’m not faulting the staff they do have: 3 brave custodians spoke out; to save money for their top execs-$$$–CPS maintenance perpetually understaffed.
It is things like this that make the education system so unreliable. Charter schools need to have restrictions put on them so that money laundering does not happen. That 3 million a year could have helped the students, by giving them after school programs, technology in the classroom, etc. Teachers could have been making more money, being able to buy more supplies for their classroom, and so on. The money could have been put to better use instead of going back in to the pocket of the family that owns the school and the building. Just by purchasing the building the students and teachers could have had a more filling education