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Months after it was initiated, the Pennsbury School District has released the results of a review of alleged issues at the Center for Student Learning Charter School in Tullytown.
Based on documents released last week, Philadelphia-based Heffler, Radetich and Siatta LLP reviewed 14 allegations made by the charter school’s former business manager and found “only a single allegation had merit.”
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The school board accepted the review of the charter school and paid $21,162 to Heffler, Radetich and Siatta LLP.
Terri Sparango, the former business manager, alleged last year that she was wrongfully discharged after she refused to take part in what she believed was “ongoing criminal activity.” She also made allegations about financial issues at the charter school in a lawsuit filed last year. At Pennsbury School Board meetings, she also raised concerns about “financial irregularities.”
In spring, the lawsuit had been marked “settled, discontinued, and ended without prejudice.” Both sides declined to discuss the settlement.
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The August 15 memo made public by Pennsbury was from district solicitors Michael Clarke and Peter Amuso.
Of the 14 allegations reviewed by the Heffler, Radetich and Siatta LLP, one relating to pensions was found to be “improperly omitted from the footnote disclosure.”
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“Therefore, the only financial allegation in the complaint that has merit is CSL’s failure to provide a footnote regarding their pension plan. This individual error does not meet the statutory standard for the district to revoke CSL’s charter,” the district’s lawyers concluded.
The memo noted that while the district charters the 150-student facility, it has no involvement in the operation.
Pennsbury’s Chief Financial Officer Christopher Berdnik wrote in a memo to the school board last week that he will continue to monitor the going ons at the charter school.
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An attorney for the charter school told the school district in June that the nonprofit educational facility will implement a finance committee. Several of the people who will lead the charter school’s committee were individuals mentioned in the lawsuit.
Jim Thompson, who worked as the charter school’s facilities manager for nine years, said he still had concerns about the charter school’s operation and finances. Thompson stood behind Sparango’s claims previously.
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Pennsbury School Board President T.R. Kannan said he was pleased the audit was completed and found no major issues. He added that he thought it was important the claims were looked into.
Charter school CEO Dr. Charles Bonner and Sparango did not comment on the audit report.
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