The story of J and his battle with the Smyrna School District continued. After J was expelled, his mom filed an appeal with the State Board of Education. She also had J’s criminal trial to contend with as well. The trial was set for November 14th.
Criminal Charges
Will Indian River School District Need A State Bailout?
Indian River School DistrictIndian River has NO monthly financial statements, budgets, nothing showing ANY money whatsoever on their website. Way to be transparent! Hard to look for your yearly budgets with no information. What are you hiding? How much money did Miller mess with in the finances? Is the state going to have to bail you guys out? Why are teachers being told not to plug in anything that isn’t normally plugged in inside the classrooms?
I’m hearing Miller absconded with a ton of money, up to $14-15 million according to some. Where is the transparency on this issue? That is some very serious coin. How can we trust Indian River to safeguard student data in the BRINC empire when the district can’t even safeguard their own money? Oh wait, I’m sorry, the taxpayers money. This is going to make any district financial meltdown in the past look like Romper Room.
Why is Bunting making this seem like some ordinary hiccup on the news? This is the problem in Delaware. Too many figures in power who think the people don’t need to know the truth. Too many legislators who think they are the last point of transparency. Not this time. Come clean Indian River so we can all see what’s going on. If the state winds up bailing you guys out we all pay the price for that one. Better to tell the truth now than face the wrath of the entire state.
The fact that all your financial information is missing does not bode well for this district. I have to wonder… when this district knew what happened in Brandywine with Patrick Miller, why would they hire a financial guy who basically plea bargained his way out of criminal charges? Delaware deserves better than this.
Updated, 8:18am: This is being referred to as Millergate around Sussex County and Indian River School District. It’s not looking good the district will be able to make payroll going into October. This is NOT good folks.
Should Criminal Charges Be Filed Against Those Who Watched Amy’s Assault?
Murder Charges, School ExpulsionWe see it all the time. Video footage surfaces of fights, in and out of schools. They are all over social media. While this can be used as evidence in a criminal investigation, it also glorifies the actual fighting. Last week, Amy Joyner-Francis died from blunt force trauma to her head. While this has not been labeled as the “official cause of death” pending an autopsy, my hunch is it will be. Several students filmed the fight and watched. They did not intervene. Many of them cheered it on and formed a blockade so adults couldn’t get in to the bathroom at Howard High School of Technology. Many feel they should be charged as well. While they didn’t commit the act, they also did nothing that could have stopped it. As well, should schools act on these issues if the justice system does not? Please take the below poll and feel free to comment on this thread. There will be many different opinions so let’s keep it civil! If you vote “Other” please put what punishment or non-punishment you think they should get.
Del. State News Article: Academy of Dover’s Noel Rodriguez Going To Attorney General’s Office
Academy of Dover“The Auditor’s office was concerned by the length of time the alleged financial mismanagement continued while under the oversight of the Board of Directors, Department of Education, independent auditors, Innovative Schools, the Charter School Accountability Committee, and Division of Accounting.”
According to an article by Craig Anderson with the Delaware State News, the State Auditor’s office in Delaware sent their audit report on Academy of Dover to Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn’s office. What the article had, which I haven’t seen before, is this:
Also, the Auditor’s office alleged, “Given the magnitude of the problem at (Academy of Dover), there may well have been additional exceptions prior to July 2011.”
Once again, this article states the State Auditor’s office receive an anonymous tip on their fraud hotline regarding ex-principal Noel Rodriguez’ rampant and unauthorized spending. Rodriguez is trying to find a seat on a non-profit board, according to Anderson. A few sources have told me Rodriguez was working at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Middletown, DE until he was let go once the news came out about the allegations leveled against him in the Auditor’s report.
Many have wondered why Rodriguez is being made an example of while they dynamic duo from Family Foundations Academy, Sean Moore and Dr. Tennell Brewington, got a get out of jail free card. According to a letter to the DOE, Moore and Brewington settled with the school and hints the attorney general’s office was involved in this financial settlement after they pilfered over $90,000 from that charter school. But one thing to consider is the State Auditor has not officially released a report on Family Foundations Academy yet. They started an investigation into Academy of Dover in August, 2014, and their report came out last month. So if it takes roughly ten months, we might see a report on Family Foundations Academy by September. The $90,000 figure was based on a forensic audit done by Auphsite Consulting, but I have a suspicion the State Auditor will discover a much higher amount of fraud by Moore and Brewington.
As for Rodriguez, it will be interesting to see what his next move will be. Will he attempt to offer a plea bargain? If there were others involved in criminal financial mischief at the school, I could see Rodriguez pointing the finger. The next few months should be interesting for all seven of the charter schools under some type of investigation or review with the State Auditor’s office. I am very curious what kind of financial issues are under investigation with Providence Creek Academy…
Delaware Attorney General Office Investigating Ex-Principal Noel Rodriguez of Academy of Dover
Academy of Dover, Noel RodriguezAccording to an article on WBOC’s website, former Academy of Dover Principal Noel Rodriguez is being investigated by the Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust division of the Delaware Attorney General’s office. This office, which opened in January when Attorney General Matt Denn took office, also investigated the former heads of school at Family Foundations Academy, Sean Moore and Dr. Tennell Brewington, but no charges were filed in that case.
The heat is on for charter schools after this report came out. With seven charters under investigation by the State Auditor, Tom Wagner, you can be sure legislators will be pushing for radical change. One of them, State Rep. Kim Williams, finally got her House Bill 186 released from the House Education Committee after Chair Earl Jaques sat on it for a week. The bill goes to the House for a full vote, but it is not on any agenda yet. Furthermore, even if it passes the House, it would go to the Senate Education Committee, which probably won’t convene again until January 2016 when the legislators take their 6 month hiatus.
The Season Of Myths 