REALLY GEORGE???? CTU, community organizations call for Concept Schools charter investigation BY CTU COMMUNICATIONS | 08/19/2014 Dear City of Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson, Legislative Inspector General Faisal Khan, Chicago Public Schools Interim Inspector General Nicholas J. Schuler, Chicago Board of Ethics Chair Stephen Beard: We the undersigned submit a request for the IG’s Office to conduct an immediate investigation into the corrupt and controversial practices of Concept Charter School, elected officials that have been linked to the organization and contractors that have benefited from their association to the operator. Currently, Concept Charter School is the largest charter operator in the world with 3 schools in District 299, the Chicago Public Schools, with two additional schools scheduled to open in the fall. Recently the network was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for fraudulent and illegal activity regarding no bid-contracts via the federal E-rate program. The network has also been found to engage in a number of other questionable financial practices that violate spirit and letter of the law including but not limited to the issuance of bonds using Chicago tax dollars to subsidize the construction of charter schools in Ohio and the sale of properties that appear to benefit associates of the Charter company at the expense of school children and taxpayers. Please see the addendum at the end of this complaint for more details and sources regarding these improprieties. Of great concern is the coordination and financial ties between the charter operator and elected officials. Below is a description of questionable financial donations and sponsored trips that appear to have paved the way for establishing new Concept schools despite their growing number of questionable practices and public opposition to their proposals. Name of Alderman Donation / service received Benefit provided to charter operator JoAnn Thompson Alderman Thompson was given a $549 donation from Salim Ucan, Vice President of Concept on 6/26/14. At her ward meeting on 7/22/14, due to the current FBI investigation dozens of community members called for Alderman Thompson to withdraw her support for a Concept school being built in the Ward. While another Alderman had just publicly withdrawn support for a Concept construction project in his ward, Alderman Thompson maintained her alliance with Concept. Alderman Thompson was given another $3,000 donation from Ucan days after this community meeting on 7/25/14, that looks suspiciously like a thank you for her continued public support of their charter proposal. The $3,000.00 donation is the largest on record by Ucan to any politician, suggesting that the controversy surrounding the charter is getting more costly for the operator to maintain political support. The operator continues its construction at the schools site at 54th and Western despite an ongoing FBI investigation. George Cardenas ----Alderman Cardenas--- received a total of $1000 from Vice President Ucan, after the charter school was rejected from their initial school site on the city’s north-side. Concept was able to build a charter school with a zoning change from the alderman in McKinley Park on 39th and Western. Joe Moore Has continued to support the CMSA campus and accepted a trip to Turkey financed by the Niagara Foundation, a foundation with deep ties to the Concept Charter network.[1] Enabled the network to establish a toe-hold in Chicago. Lastly, we are forced to turn to your office for an independent investigation because the Chicago Board of Education is unable and unwilling to fulfil its role as stewards of our educational system. A recent expose in the Chicago Sun Times reveals that the Board of Education President, David Vitale, through his executive role at Urban Partnership Bank, will profit from Concept’s new school site in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. The Board’s Vice President, Jesse Ruiz, has stated on multiple occasions that the Board is reluctant to reject the charter operator’s proposals for fear that the State Charter Commission will over-rule their rejection and place greater financial burdens upon the district. Both of these examples suggest that an independent third party outside of the district’s purview is needed to determine the extent of political corruption, criminal activity and financial mismanagement that Concept is engaged in.[2] Another expose from the Sun-Times provides more details regarding the no-bid contractors benefiting from their relationship with Concept and who are under investigation by the FBI.[3] We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. Sincerely, Katelyn Johnson, Executive Director, Action Now
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:20:36 +0000
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