Bill Phillis, retired deputy superintendent of the state department of education, is a zealous advocate for accountability and transparency. He has made a public records request about the Gulen charter schools in Ohio. He has written a multi-part series based on what he learned. This is Part 3.

Public Records and Charter Schools – Part Three: Ohio Department of Education (ODE)

Under state law, the ODE is responsible for the legal oversight of the state’s network of charter schools, the distribution of state funds that support them, and the enforcement of such compliance measures which are in place. The Department is also in the awkward position of being a charter sponsor itself, with about 25 schools under its sponsorship. In looking at ODE’s role as the compliance mechanism for charters, the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding (Ohio E&A) requested records from the state education agency pertaining to the 17 Ohio Concept Schools from 2008 to the present.

The records received from ODE are abundant in detailing parent complaints regarding the instructional program offered at the Ohio Concept Schools.

Among the complaints received by the Department are issues regarding the proper placement of students consistent with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements that govern students with disabilities.

A review of the correspondence supplied by ODE indicates that a number of the Gulen schools have experienced other issues besides special education, including allegations by a number of teachers in 2014 at the Horizon Science Academy – Dayton, which were reviewed by the state board of education. The report by the school’s sponsor organization (see Part Four) that was submitted to ODE about the charges against the school has formed the basis of much criticism during the last several years. The charges included lax administrative procedures, physical labor required of the staff, and discrimination by administrators against some staff members. Again, this issue will be reviewed in more detail in Part Four.

In late 2017, the records reveal, the law firm representing Concept Schools and the Gulen chain contacted ODE to advise that the FBI investigation into their schools was still ongoing. Counsel stated that the U.S. Attorney in Cleveland is in charge of the government’s efforts to look at possible irregularities into the use of federal funds allocated for these schools.

Prior to that, a Washington law firm representing the Republic of Turkey contacted State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria. In the letter, the attorneys suggested that the state agency look more thoroughly into the affairs of Horizon Science and Noble Academies, the Gulen-related chain managed by Concept Schools. The law firm alleged that these schools, authorized by Buckeye Community Hope Foundation (BCHF) and ESC of Lake Erie West (ESCLEW), “work under a shroud of secrecy and seemingly under the direction of a handful of Turkish religious leaders. Many of these schools and their operators share a history of financial mismanagement, suspected fraud, apparent self-dealing, discrimination, and unusual immigration/visa practices.”

Also found among the documents submitted by ODE were two reports that are both dated January 16, 2018. Both were submitted by the two sponsors of all of the Ohio Concept Schools, BCHF and ESCLEW. Both also bear the same title – Investigation Report: Concept Schools and are similar in nature. They were written in the same format, and only the conclusion part shows a slightly different narrative approach.

Here is one example: “The ESCLEW has verified the physical address of all governing authority members to ensure that geographical locations have not interfered with attendance to the school or to governing authority.” In the report submitted by the BCHF, that identical sentence is found, followed by an additional sentence for each of their schools under contract. That sentence states “No current members live more than 75 miles from the school.” This statement is repeated for all of the schools under BCHF sponsorship.

Both reports end in the same manner, stating that the FBI investigation was disclosed to the sponsor, but no details are offered. Moreover, both sponsors promise to “monitor attendance at (board) meetings, financials, leases, and teacher turnover.”

It is interesting to note that less than a month after these nearly identical reports were submitted to ODE, a staff member in ODE’s charter school office wrote on February 5, 2018 to ESCLEW in Toledo, regarding an observation about Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School:

“Also I would appreciate a copy of the minutes of the GA meeting … And I was surprised that each of the Concept schools in and around Morse Road area of northern Columbus seem to have the same governing authority and they meet on the same day, same place and same time.”

Apparently, this inbreeding among governing boards of Concept Schools does not seem to be an issue with the schools’ sponsors, although it did appear on the radar, however briefly, of ODE. The public would certainly be interested in seeing a graphic of these intersections of boards, along with the traveling distance of the governing board members and the time of day these boards meet.

William L. Phillis | Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding | 614.228.6540 | ohioeanda@sbcglobal.net| http://www.ohiocoalition.org