Introduction:
Imagine it’s a normal day after school and your daughter walks in. She drops her things and enters the kitchen. You asked the typical parenting question. “ How was your day at school?”. She replies, tomorrow the teacher will be showing us a presentation of “The Festival of the Steel Phallus”. Which is a Japanese penis festival? You brush it off and the next day she texts you and says the teacher showed two objectionable videos. How would you feel? You proceed to contact the school's Vice-principal and there is no response. How would you feel at that moment? Enraged? Disgusted? Lied to?... It is fair to say that every parent would feel this way. Unfortunately, this situation is not an imaginary scenario in 2015 this event happened to a thirteen-year-old high school student who attended New Point High School. This particular event ended in the student being transferred to another class but nothing more. The school, however, is still no doubt problematic. New Point High School of Escambia County, Florida was known as a high-performing charter school that was first opened in August 2011. The institution found itself in a scandal with great fault the school's endorsement from others.
The scandal at hand was an accusation that school administrators allegedly forced the teachers to alter attendance, and grades provoked the deletion of assignments, provide answers to tests, and change grades to ensure that students graduated. This would not be all that the school would be accused of. After Escambia County Superintendent of Schools revealed that some teachers' reactions to the allegations were either livid or emotionally distraught. Maybe, because they feared the consequences that may lie ahead.
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There were calls received from a whistleblower back in May of 2014, he was not present, but the assistant took down all the accounted details. Some that would include the details of how complaints to the principal would be ignored, not just from only her peers; but students and parents as well. Similar stories followed, corroborating the allegations of grade editing, and unkept recordkeeping. Teachers also brought up health and safety concerns as well. Some went on to mention how certain safety incidents such as physical assaults by students, and unseemly behavior amongst other things. Even after several messages that had been generated by phone and email about the situation, no actions from his office followed. Later, communication from Assistant Mrs. Erwin and Vickie Mathis the Director of Alternative Education. Directed by Superintendent Thomas to do so.
Once informed of the allegation Mathis sought advice from the Department of Transportation, Florida. Upon further communication, Irvin and Thomas discovered that two specific students were identified with low GPAs. After additional information grew more specific. The allegations with proof of documentation of responses from the school district personnel. There were no emails to follow-ups. At the end of the school year no report by the Escambia County School Board of any problems... There were allegations that Thomas put a hold on New Point High’s 2014 to provide time to investigate the allegations. The mole was not pleased to hear about Thomas's lack of immediate response. Because she believed that generally intervene and investigate.
As winter began the school district started to receive complaints once again. The county school added new charges on a different set of allegations including harassment (Sexual Inappropriately), tampering, and serious breaches in safety. Teachers were not allowed to be questioned. During an absence of publicity, Governor Rick Scot awarded New Point High School, and New Port Academy, with checks totaling $27,253. Later, Thoma's consequences from not reporting the problems earlier are now scandals receiving awards for student performance for financial benefit.
The whistleblower then chose to contact the school's superintendent Bergosh regarding the grade-altering scandal, but it would later become public news on March 25, 2015. They expressed their concerns about the conditions of the school, and how they have since declined because there was no response from either party. Mr. Bergosh Would later state on his blog that the communication and lack of knowledge show dysfunction with the volatile allegations. The Whistleblower would then send Mr. Bergosh a 22-page report including the tampering of grades, the dates of the alleged incidents, also the name of the students and parents. Most importantly it included the names of the teachers who administrators directed to do so. These changes could significantly impact the school grade of an A. But it would have to be ongoing before the current school year to receive the bonus for the grade. More related incidents of allegations would soon arise detailing information on who stole school funds. More dirty and inappropriate who watched adult films in the classroom, and who inappropriately touched and interacted whit the high school and middle school students.
Upon receiving this document Mr. Bergosh then passed it along to Donna Waters the Escambia County School District attorney and Superintendent Thomas. Please be aware that Superintendent Thomas was already aware of the allegations made against New Point High School, and Academy. In addition to posting an ambiguous note on March 26, 2015. Where he made known that it is his opinion that cheating is one of the worse examples a public charter school can set. He went on to say that cheating to boost graduation rates helps raise schools' letter grades and does help in the end with funding for academic accolades. He also expressed how he was used in this scheme and how it also affected the governor and himself.
But in the end, Superintendent Thomas still did not take appropriate action after receiving substantial evidence. Public records that were provided by Mr. Bergosh showed that there were numerous reasons why the investigation grew stagnant. Gary March the district Investigator had reported that there would be numerous stories but no one would come forward and match their story with their initial interview.
All in all, things that the school failed to were as follows
- Failed to maintain accurate enrollment data
- Maintain student records by following federal law standards
- Always maintain a safe learning environment
- Follow guidelines and procedures regarding recommendations for expulsion
- To pursue and make progress toward the achievements, goals, and objectives previously set in the School improvement plan
- Failed to provide services for students with disabilities
- Failed to hire persons who had qualified background checks
- Ensure that employees underwent a level two background check.
- Deliver instructional programs that were identified in the charter school proposal
- Obtain all necessary permits, zoning, etc.
- Provide exceptional state and local laws and policy
- Secure the health, and safety of all students.
Assessment:
From my perspective, I believe that the root cause of all the dysfunction falls on the School board, had not the correct amount of supervision been in place a lot of things would not have been able to happen. Also, some additional root causes could be setting clear expectations on how the supervision would take place, as well as the internal accountability, and the disciplinary consequence of corruption. All these would have helped exhaust malicious allegations such as these.
When assuming or discerning of taking on a charter a significant amount of research should have been done on the parent organization as well as the previous projects it has completed. Things an organization could research would be previous charter schools’ data with that parent company. For example, New Port Education Partners owner Marcus may be charged by the state of Florida with fraud and racketeering amongst other things. He allegedly used shell companies to sell his overpriced goods and services to the schools, all the while pocketing taxpayers' dollars. His actions did not just stop with Escambia County but followed in five other counties in the state of Florida. This shows where he is taking funds right from students' education, which can be seen as ill intent, and lack of oversight. (Pensacola, 2017)
Also, analyzing whether were there any malicious articles in the media or even the school’s grades, and compliances with the law. Correspondingly looking into the parent companies’ leadership. Gathering details that would enclose their background and professional relationships. Looking into the teachers that taught at their other institutions and analyzing whether they were certified and met all state and federal criteria. Information of that nature is highly important when it comes to the Health, Education, and Safety of those students. Seeing that you are giving an organization the right to educate your future. Following you should set clear expectations and events of supervision to ensure that all expectations are met that both the School Board and the Organization agreed upon. For example, corroborating different interviews with both students and staff to make sure that there is a positive report from the organization. Sitting in on classes to ensure that it is in line with the lesson plans and the educational approach agreed upon, as well as evaluating all teachers' methods during the first quarter of the teaching. Also, checking all employees’ backgrounds that are taught within the school systems to ensure all student safety.
One would think that this may be a lot of responsibility for a School Board to enforce. But in hindsight, it is not. 'If there is no one looking over a thief’s shoulder might they always be drawn to steal?” when it comes to ethics you should always question one’s intentions, there must be no assumptions, and you must expect and prepare for the worst.
An example would be how students perform due to unqualified teachers who work with the organization. Studies have shown that based on the premise that teachers who are effective at teaching can impact students’ achievement levels. (Berson, E, 2012) The study also examined factors such as teachers’ education and retention. So, there is very much a possibility that failing grades are due to the credibility of the teachers. Organizations are expected to be honest about the qualification of their educators and their past performance efforts.
Setting Guidelines there is separate from the school improvement plan. That clearly states what would be expected or inspected by unknown dates in a school semester. An alternative perspective would be that with the Improvement plan, there should be no additional need for guidelines of oversight. Because the Improvement plan is a placeholder and not a binding statement it just states what the organization will try to achieve. There is no expected accountability in that effort. No one person was responsible for assuring that the school is striving towards ethical success towards and seemingly attainable goal. As a result, there is no organization or consequence for not attaining these goals presented in the School Improvement Plan. A report provided by the Annenberg Institute from Brown University provided seven policies that would be more effective. They included:
Traditional districts and charter schools should work together to ensure a coordinated approach that serves all children.
- School governance should be representative and transparent. Only 10 states – California is not among them – require a parent to be on the governing board.
- Charter schools should ensure equal access to interested students and prohibit practices that discourage enrollment or disproportionately push enrolled students out of school.
- Charter school discipline policy should be fair and transparent.
- Districts and charter schools should work together to ensure that facilities arrangements do not disadvantage students in either sector.
- Online (Apex Learning system used for students in NPH, and NPA) charter schools should be better regulated for quality, transparency, and the protection of student data.
- Monitoring and oversight of charter schools should be strong and fully funded by the state. (Frey, S 2014)
Perspectives such as these should be taken into full consideration. Because they identify exactly where charter school organizations can stand to improve. The proposed policies are not difficult to achieve and are very attainable. Setting goals that fit within these policy parameters could help organizations achieve identified objectives. There is structured oversight to make sure the students are being well benefited in the end.
Analysis:
Educational accountability produces good schools and allows you to weed out and repair the state of schools that have areas of improvement. Schools now depend on the rules and compliances put especially into place for a situation such as these. Organizations should follow regulations and should be micromanaged with bureaucratic controls to keep unethical behavior in the past. It is understood that charter accountability is result-driven, however, we can no longer do so. There must be regulations in place to not heavily rely on just plain academic results. (Manno, B.V 2000)
According to the Network for Public Education, there were over forty cases in March 2019. There is not a lot of existing research that responds to the lack of oversight in charter schools exactly. But numerous articles suggest allegations of such being done in charter schools around the country. However, articles are suggesting that 6% of schoolchildren in America attend charter schools. Most who support charter education feel that it is a sustainable feature for our educational landscape. (Strauss, V 2019)
Lessons Learned:
Based on the assessment the key lesson would be to create oversight. The reason being when there is no rule of regulatory behavior things often get sidetracked, to benefit the unintended. Becoming immoral in honesty and integrity. Especially in an industry such as Charter Schools. Only the students are meant to benefit in life-changing ways. Not those in hopes of economic gain through taxpayers' dollars. As we saw in May.
Actions that should be taken from my assessment would be taken in effect in line with the core problems. The lesson that I have learned is when you are in a governing board make sure that you do your diligence in holding up all consequential deliverables. Such as setting and managing clear expectations on how clear the objectives should be. As well as to what to expect from the board in terms of oversight, and the consequences if there was a failure on immorality in obtaining these objectives.
The theory that is relevant in this case would be the bureaucratic theory. Because it helps to develop clear rules for decision-making. It has been referred to as rational-legal decision-making. So rules and procedures are specifically designed to benefit the organization's structure. However, they should be consistent with rules and laws that mesh with society. But they would first have to ensure that there is a hierarchical structure consistent with expectations. For, example making sure the board of education is respectively ethical and leaves the room for oversight. Next to ensuring that division of power and authority. This helps to make sure that there is no one person held responsible for a particular organization. While proceeding with Formal Rules that would be lawfully consequential.
However, this theory has certain problems like limitations. Rules and norms are always put in place to help improve efficiency and ethical conduct. However, previous rules set in place can be very slow in adaption to new situations. For example, a charter school wouldn’t be able to conveniently switch curriculums and resources used for the school. There can sometimes be an executive structure as well it is hard and can lead to frustration because of how slow it may take to get certain authorization. Looking back there should always be an oversight. When looking into parent organization you have to enforce a certain code of ethics. It is very important for external control for administrative boards. Superiors should accept their responsibility for their formal obligation. Not to be mistaken for sole power and authority over an organization. This is how corruption starts and scandals begin. By setting a bureaucratic standard. It would give organizations a chance to develop organizational structure. By being able to handle oversight and formed expectations.
Reference:
- http://wp.studeri.org/2015/04/no-school-is-immune-to-grade-tampering/
- http://jeffbergoshblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/
- https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2017/06/24/punish-newpoint-scandal-probe-let-happen/103099502/
- http://www.northescambia.com/2015/06/more-teacher-arrested-for-helping-students-during-eoc-test
- https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED455563.pdf
- Berson, E. J. (2012). Teachers' Perspectives of Teacher Supervision Policies & Practices in Charter Schools in Pennsylvania. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, PO Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
- Berends, M., Watral, C., Teasley, B., & Nicotera, A. (2006). Charter school effects on achievement: Where we are and where we’re going. Nashville, TN: National Center on School Choice.
- Carpenter, B. L. (2007). The five dysfunctions of charter school boards. The National Charter.
- Manno, B. V., Finn Jr, C. E., & Vanourek, G. (2000). Charter school accountability: Problems and prospects. Educational Policy, 14(4), 473-493.
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