DL Open Thread: Fri., May 24, 2019
More On What Park City Kathy Won’t Audit. The apparent improprieties have everything to do with the incestuous relationship between the school and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. From the State Public Integrity Commission:
In an April 2 letter to the school, the commission states that not only does the Hellenic association’s majority presence on the board create the potential for conflicts of interest, but that “the conflicts are real and they are alarming.”
“Equally troublesome is the fact that the board has been unwilling to acknowledge the conflicts and those individuals that are seen as ‘not playing along’ are targeted as unwilling to be a team player or not working in the best interest” of the school,” wrote Bonnie Smith, chair of the commission. “The AHEPA board members appear to be blind to the fact that AHEPA is a private interest that conflicts with their Board duties.”
BTW, it may be small sample size, but is the News Journal upping its investigative reporting game? Is there hope yet?
Trump Goes After The Press And/Or Political Enemies In Unprecedented Actions. This is no longer democracy. Not even plutocracy.
Georgia Governor Having Second Thoughts On ‘C-List Celebrities’? Just remember, this guy stole the election through voter intimidation.
May Exits Over Brexit. An interesting take as to why she was ill-suited to the task.
How Chemical Industry Kills Bills Banning Flame Retardants. John Kowalko is right: D’s fall for industry propaganda (and industry donations?) every time. Here’s what happened in Mass. A must-read. An excerpt:
With a massive influence operation and a $123m budget, the ACC has 109 lobbyists registered at 40 statehouses across the country, including some who registered in multiple states, and 56 more lobbyists registered in Washington DC, ready to dispatch when lawmakers proposed regulations on their industry.
Although the ACC is not a household name, it is currently better financed than well-known groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA). The ACC has a budget more than 20% bigger than the gun rights group.
But unlike the NRA, it do not appear to work with a base of public support. Instead, they are financed by some of the world’s most powerful companies, who often supply valuable jobs in politicians’ jurisdictions.
BTW, who lobbies in Delaware on behalf of the American Chemical Council? Why, none other than former Democratic National Committeeman Rhett Ruggerio and his firm. I wonder if he’s OK with strapping his two daughters into those cancer-causing car seats.
What do you want to talk about?
It gets even crazier with McGuinness. Some Greek men who hosted a fundraiser for her also have interesting ties to the AHEPA-led Odyssey Board. Is that why she won’t audit? Check Kevin Ohlandt’s most recent post for more.
Thanks, Mike. Here is the relevant excerpt from Kevin’s article:
“At a December 3 fundraiser hosted by members of Delaware’s Greek American Community, more than 40 Greek-Americans came out to support her effort to become the first Greek-American to hold statewide office in Delaware. McGuiness, one of four sisters in her family, shared with supporters the Greek values her late father, John Kramedas, instilled in her. “In our house, we learned the value of getting an education and hard work. When you put those two together you can create your own opportunities for success.” The fundraiser host committee members were Demitri and Georgia Halakos, Michael and Liz Vassilikos, Gus and Maria Caras, Antonios Kypreos, Ted Hantzandreou, George Hantzandreou, Dr. Dean Lomis, Dr. George Moutsatsos and Sophia Pennias.
While a fundraiser for a state office campaign is not unusual, McGuiness’ ties to some of the individuals hosting the event is enough to raise some eyebrows. Several of the attendees belong to AHEPA- Demitri and Georgia Halakos, Ted Hantzandreou, Dr. Dean Lomis, Dr. George Moutsatsos and Sophia Pennias are all members of AHEPA. But the name that sticks out like a sore thumb is George Hantzandreou. Not only is he a member of AHEPA but also sits on the Odyssey Charter School Board of Directors. This is a matter that should certainly be looked at by the Public Integrity Commission. It is one thing to have a fundraiser. These are very common in any election. But given the ties to Odyssey and AHEPA this needs to be investigated.”
Especially since she won’t do her job and do the audit. Hey, maybe she should just recuse herself and appoint a qualified auditor. What’s Kim Davies doing now? She’d be a good choice…
Kathleen Davies. Kim Davis was the woman that refused to marry same-sex couples. I suspect that’s who you confused her with.
Nope. Just hadn’t had enough coffee yet. Kathleen Davies indeed.
Kathleen Davies
TREXIT! May OUT.
Next stop General Elections
Ohhhhhhhh Jer e my Corbyn!
Jezza!
Boris Johnson is favoured, but ok.
The British political knower has logged on!
Hey, professor… Once the Tories name a new leader what happens next?
And what could be the result of that next thing?
(I’ll give you a hint. I mentioned it in my comment. It begins with a G and rhymes with Reflection.)
but ok.
So if you have a school with a specific focus and a board comprised of selected individuals to forward that specific focus wouldnt that be what constitutes a private school?
No, no great investigative reporting. The News-Journal stumbled on to this because it got so big they couldn’t ignore it. Odyssey’s issues have been well documented for a while by Kevin O.
The depth of the reporting on this shows a very smart move by DOE, who wanted its concerns and McGuiness’ response to get out there publicly because she looked like a fool. The emails the reporters cite were handed to them by DOE, not obtained through a FOIA request or a backdoor leak. They were given the story on a platter once they decided to write about it.
Lots of interesting stuff going on here. DOE spokesman acknowledges in today’s NJ article that it recognizes the conflict of interest in the Greek Boys Club having majority control of the Odyssey board even though prior managers in DOE’s charter school office didn’t think this was a problem.
On the surface, it appears that the Greek Boys Club is actually running a pretty good school — solid academics, good student performance, more applicants than it can handle and there may be more Greek surnames in Park City Kathy’s office than in the Odyssey student body. So, going to be interesting how far DOE pushes the Odyssey board, which can say, “hey, we’ve got a pretty good academic program going here.” Easiest solution might be to mandate a board expansion so the Greek Boys Club no longer holds a majority.
What ought to be of equal concern here is that the Delaware Charter Schools Universe sometimes seems to be an interlocking directorate. Folks serving as board members at more than one school, or serving as an administrator at one school and a board member at another. (Remember Margie Lopez Waite running Las Americas Aspira Academy and jumping in as board president at the public safety academy? Or the overlaps between East Side Charter and Family Foundations (new New Castle Charter)?) If they clean up Odyssey, are they going to clean up the others? Do they have the stomach for that? Dare they drain the Charter School Swamp?
I think the answer is no.
You raise some really good points. I might be mistaken, but didn’t Odyssey’s board get slapped by Mark Murphy and the State Board back in 2014 when they were up for renewal or something to that effect? I can’t totally remember but I remember being at that State Board meeting and their governance and board conflicts came up.
I don’t think anyone is raising questions about the school’s academics in all this. But charters are not just overseen based solely on academics. It is Academics, Financial, and Governance. And two out of three aren’t in sync with Delaware state code right now.
I do find it interesting the DOE did NOT bring this up before. I’ve written about the male-dominated AHEPA on a few occasions over the years before this debacle became public. Interestingly enough, the Charter School Office is now run by a man which hasn’t been the case in over five years.
I think there can be many conflicts from people serving on more than one charter school board. I also have an issue with district admins serving on a charter board (hello Donald Patton and Dusty Blakey).
My best guess is the board will be reconstituted so there is no majority of AHEPA members.
Kevin,
I agree with much of what you’re saying. The school’s academic performance will probably be its salvation. The board problem can be fixed but the arrogance the board has displayed thus far is deserving of a firm rap on the knuckles, at the very least. The financial issues are far more concerning. They may have overextended with the purchase of the Barley Mill campus and the new construction (gym, etc.), Vacant space was a reason they wanted to start the preschool — as a way to generate revenue to offset their debt. And there’s probably still room for one more charter out there … but who’s starting charters now? (Oh, lest we forget, isn’t DOE getting ready to shower federal bucks on folks that want to start new ones?)
Anyhow, if they don’t get the finances straightened out … not predicting the death spiral yet, but somebody had better keep a close watch.
Please go to this link to see how honest legislators resist putting special corporate interests over the health and safety of children and firefighters.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/05/23/flame-retardant-ban-becomes-state-law
Then call each and every member of the committee that tabled HB 117 and demand they release the bill to protect our families and friends.
Representative John Kowalko