Tomalis brags about his "rigorous oversight of cybercharter schools" in resignation letter

[JPZenger]

http://local21news.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/ron-tomalis-resigns-controversial-adviser-position-11079.shtml

Now we know what Tomalis has been doing for his high state salary and full benefits, even though there was little of evidence of actual work. In his resignation letter today, he brags about how he was responsible for the "rigorous oversight of cybercharter schools."

That explains why the cybercharter system in PA. is so screwed up - the guy in charge of overseeing it only sent 10 emails in a year, had no office until last week, and had no office hours.

When you watch those annoying and repetitious TV ads for cybercharters, just remember - your tax dollars paid for all of those ads. Meanwhile, many city school districts are in their fourth round of teacher layoffs.

http://www.wtae.com/news/local/beaver/feds-lay-out-charges-against-pennsylvania-cyber-charter-school-founder/21628056

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/philly-online-schools-head-charged-corrupti

http://www.pottsmerc.com/opinion/20140211/op-ed-reform-of-pa-charter-schools-long-overdue

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/fbi-goes-over-gov-corbetts-head-inves

http://pando.com/2014/01/31/pennsylvania-still-doesnt-trust-cyber-charter-schools-and-rightfully-so/

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2013/10/10/Board-president-steps-down-at-scandal-ridden-PA-Cyber-school/stories/201310100482

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/22843-scandals-and-shaky-academic-performance-among-charter-schools.html

http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/charter-schools-for-scandals/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/09/05/why-charter-schools-need-better-oversight/

(Even the Washington Post features PA. when they write about cyber and charter scandals.)

http://www.citypaper.net/article.php?Charter-operator-owed-its-schools-millions-but-no-one-s-checking-its-books-15674

http://articles.philly.com/2013-08-23/news/41437670_1_charter-lease-reimbursement-program-chester-community-charter-school-depasquale

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/22843-scandals-and-shaky-academic-performance-among-charter-schools.html

[JPZenger]

1. Why hasn't the state government prosecuted charter school fraud of state tax dollars?

Most of the cases of criminal charges against charter school operators in PA. have involved federal prosecution. The Repubs have controlled the PA. Attorney General's office for over 25 years. Why hasn't the state been more involved in prosecuting corrupt charter school operators, particularly when it involves mis-use of state tax dollars?

A few charter schools that were mis-using millions of dollars of state money were still in operation YEARS after criminal charges were filed against them. The local school districts often tried to shut them down, but found they were powerless.

When tax-payer funded charters first sprouted throughout Philadelphia, it attracted some really irresponsible greedy bastards. The state had taken over control of the Phila. School District, and some school district officials were allegedly told by the Republican Speaker of the House (before he went to prison) to keep their hands off of charter schools. His wife had founded one of the charter schools.

Here's some good historical context from 2010.

http://thenotebook.org/summer-2010/102543/charter-boom-%E2%80%93-no-end-sight?page=2