Arizona charter school officials say they don't want the state to impose more regulations on how the mostly privately operated schools buy goods and services with taxpayer dollars, and the state board says no changes are in the works.
The State Board for Charter Schools held a study session with charter school officials Wednesday in response to an investigation by The Arizona Republic that found that board members and administrators of some charters did business with their own schools.
Some transactions were purchases of textbooks, repairs and transportation services from companies of board members or administrators, while other transactions were facility leases and land purchases from companies owned by board members.
The state board has provided most charter schools with exemptions from state purchasing laws.
School officials told the state board that more regulations would impose burdens on the schools and that policies in place are reasonable, the Republic (http://bit.ly/10hT8AS ) reported.
"We're trying to fix something that is already fixed," said Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, a Gilbert Republican who is president of the for-profit Benjamin Franklin Charter School.
No board members suggested policy changes.
"We'll continue to operate as we have," said DeAnna Rowe, the board's executive director, after the meeting attended by about two dozen people.
downtownresident posted at 7:29 am on Fri, Jan 11, 2013.
Why operate in an ethical manner when there's money to be made.
Charter schools are nothing more than pseudo-educational cash cows designed for maximum profit for the owners/administrators.
Of course there's "no problems" if you are raking in cash hand over fist.
DataMan posted at 9:23 am on Fri, Jan 11, 2013.
If these schools want taxpayer money, they MUST be regulated in how that money is spent. Unless the GOP wants to just give away free money to their buddies.