Lawmakers calling for state audit of charter school approved for West Springfield
Updated on Apr 14, 2018 at 10:55 PM EDT
State Rep. Michael J. Finn and state Sen. James T. Welch, both Democrats from West Springfield, are requesting a state audit of the Chicopee-based Hampden Charter School of Science to learn how the publicly funded school spends its money.
(The Republican / File Photos)
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- A pair of state lawmakers are asking for an audit of the Chicopee-based Hampden Charter School of Science to learn how the taxpayer-funded school spends its money.
The request from Sen. James T. Welch and Rep. Michael J. Finn , both Democrats from West Springfield, follows the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's approval of a new branch of the charter school in West Springfield.
"Every penny that we receive is being spent on education," said Tarkan Topcuoglu, CEO of Hampden Charter School of Science, or HCSS.
HCSS-West , as the new school at 475-485 Main St. will be called, is scheduled to open in September. But Welch and Finn fear the local branch of the charter school will negatively impact West Springfield Public Schools , sharing their concerns with state education officials and Gov. Charlie Baker.
Welch claims there was a lack of public input and transparency surrounding the approval process for HCSS-West, an independent public school that operates under a five-year charter from the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
A public hearing on the charter school was held in Westfield, the presumptive host city right until the 11th hour, when a last-minute decision was made to move the school to the former Immaculate Conception-St. Frances Xavier Cabrini property at 475-485 Main St. in West Springfield.
Welch says no public hearings about the location change were held in West Springfield, and citizens only had a chance to share their concerns by email.
"There was no face-to-face meeting with residents of the host community," the senator said. "This is the shadiest type of deal I've seen. This process is completely broken and something needs to be done to fix it."
Baker has yet to respond to a letter from Welch and Finn, the latter of whom characterized the delay as "outrageous" considering the letter was mailed almost two weeks ago.
Local concerns -- particularly concerns about the potential for HCSS-West to siphon students and funding from West Springfield Public Schools -- were never considered or addressed, according to the legislators.
"They've shoved this down our throats," Finn said angrily, "and all we're getting from Boston is crickets. It's so infuriating. It's so outrageous."
Before his death in June 2017, Mitchell Chester, the state's education chief, had reportedly discussed auditing HCSS. Welch and Finn are renewing the call for an audit, unsure if one was ever carried out.
The approval process for the new charter school was flawed at best, predetermined at worst, according to the lawmakers, who are asking state Auditor Suzanne M. Bump to get involved.
"It didn't have the feeling of an adequate, transparent process," Welch said. "There was minimal ability for citizens to weigh in."
Bump's office conducts audits, studies and investigations to promote government accountability and transparency for commonwealth residents.
West Springfield officials are equally upset about HCSS-West opening in their city.
Mayor William C. Reichelt and school Superintendent Michael J. Richard have expressed concerns about the impact the charter school will have on funding for the city's public school system, which was recently recognized for teaching excellence and achieving its highest graduation and lowest dropout rates ever.
"While it may not be my place to wade into the school choice debate, or to say whether all charters are necessarily good or bad, I can say with great confidence that West Springfield Public Schools are working and are providing excellent education to our students," Reichelt said earlier this month. "The opening of HCSS threatens that progress."
The mayor has also cited the book, " Empire of Deceit: An Investigation of the Gulen Charter School Network ," as another reason to be concerned about HCSS-West.
The book, which includes the findings of an investigation by an international law firm hired by the Republic of Turkey, alleges that HCSS and similar Massachusetts charter schools in Everett and Saugus have connections to Apple Education Services and Ace It Education.
Both of these Turkish-related educational entities have alleged ties to Fethullah Gulen, a wealthy Turkish cleric who lives in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Gulen has been accused of trying to destabilize Turkey and overthrow its democratically elected government from the safety of his 26-acre compound in the Poconos.
He has denied any part in the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, which the Turkish government has blamed on the "Gulen movement" -- a designated terrorist organization in Turkey that's loyal to Gulen, a moderate Muslim cleric.https://articles.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/04/lawmakers_calling_for_state_au.amp?__twitter_impression=true
State Rep. Michael J. Finn and state Sen. James T. Welch, both Democrats from West Springfield, are requesting a state audit of the Chicopee-based Hampden Charter School of Science to learn how the publicly funded school spends its money.
(The Republican / File Photos)
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- A pair of state lawmakers are asking for an audit of the Chicopee-based Hampden Charter School of Science to learn how the taxpayer-funded school spends its money.
The request from Sen. James T. Welch and Rep. Michael J. Finn , both Democrats from West Springfield, follows the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's approval of a new branch of the charter school in West Springfield.
"Every penny that we receive is being spent on education," said Tarkan Topcuoglu, CEO of Hampden Charter School of Science, or HCSS.
HCSS-West , as the new school at 475-485 Main St. will be called, is scheduled to open in September. But Welch and Finn fear the local branch of the charter school will negatively impact West Springfield Public Schools , sharing their concerns with state education officials and Gov. Charlie Baker.
Welch claims there was a lack of public input and transparency surrounding the approval process for HCSS-West, an independent public school that operates under a five-year charter from the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
A public hearing on the charter school was held in Westfield, the presumptive host city right until the 11th hour, when a last-minute decision was made to move the school to the former Immaculate Conception-St. Frances Xavier Cabrini property at 475-485 Main St. in West Springfield.
Welch says no public hearings about the location change were held in West Springfield, and citizens only had a chance to share their concerns by email.
"There was no face-to-face meeting with residents of the host community," the senator said. "This is the shadiest type of deal I've seen. This process is completely broken and something needs to be done to fix it."
Baker has yet to respond to a letter from Welch and Finn, the latter of whom characterized the delay as "outrageous" considering the letter was mailed almost two weeks ago.
Local concerns -- particularly concerns about the potential for HCSS-West to siphon students and funding from West Springfield Public Schools -- were never considered or addressed, according to the legislators.
"They've shoved this down our throats," Finn said angrily, "and all we're getting from Boston is crickets. It's so infuriating. It's so outrageous."
Before his death in June 2017, Mitchell Chester, the state's education chief, had reportedly discussed auditing HCSS. Welch and Finn are renewing the call for an audit, unsure if one was ever carried out.
The approval process for the new charter school was flawed at best, predetermined at worst, according to the lawmakers, who are asking state Auditor Suzanne M. Bump to get involved.
"It didn't have the feeling of an adequate, transparent process," Welch said. "There was minimal ability for citizens to weigh in."
Bump's office conducts audits, studies and investigations to promote government accountability and transparency for commonwealth residents.
West Springfield officials are equally upset about HCSS-West opening in their city.
Mayor William C. Reichelt and school Superintendent Michael J. Richard have expressed concerns about the impact the charter school will have on funding for the city's public school system, which was recently recognized for teaching excellence and achieving its highest graduation and lowest dropout rates ever.
"While it may not be my place to wade into the school choice debate, or to say whether all charters are necessarily good or bad, I can say with great confidence that West Springfield Public Schools are working and are providing excellent education to our students," Reichelt said earlier this month. "The opening of HCSS threatens that progress."
The mayor has also cited the book, " Empire of Deceit: An Investigation of the Gulen Charter School Network ," as another reason to be concerned about HCSS-West.
The book, which includes the findings of an investigation by an international law firm hired by the Republic of Turkey, alleges that HCSS and similar Massachusetts charter schools in Everett and Saugus have connections to Apple Education Services and Ace It Education.
Both of these Turkish-related educational entities have alleged ties to Fethullah Gulen, a wealthy Turkish cleric who lives in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Gulen has been accused of trying to destabilize Turkey and overthrow its democratically elected government from the safety of his 26-acre compound in the Poconos.
He has denied any part in the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, which the Turkish government has blamed on the "Gulen movement" -- a designated terrorist organization in Turkey that's loyal to Gulen, a moderate Muslim cleric.https://articles.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/04/lawmakers_calling_for_state_au.amp?__twitter_impression=true
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