Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2007-12-20 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

D.C.’s Public Charter School Board this week voted to revoke the charter of Washington Academy Public Charter Schools after discovering that school administrators have skipped out on payroll taxes since 2005 and could end up $1.2 million in the hole by the end of the school year.

Charter board staff members told The Examiner they are extremely concerned about a pattern of serious financial mismanagement and that the school could be closing before the end of this school term.

Washington Academy was awarded its charter by the now-defunct D.C. Board of Education in 2005, roughly as the school started hemorrhaging money, according to Jeremy Williams, the charter board’s finance manager.

Two years ago, the school ended up losing $600,000 and then closed out last year $300,000 further behind. If administrators keep spending beyond their means, Williams said the cumulative deficit would surpass $1 million.

“I’m basically very pessimistic about their cash flow,” he said. “Now we’re just trying to stop the bleeding.”

To make matters worse, leaders at Washington Academy have not paid their taxes -- a blunder that created a $900,000 tax liability and means two dozen employees didn’t pay their taxes.

Only 250 students attend Washington Academy’s two campuses. Projected enrollment, which was used as a basis for budgeting, was double that. School leaders kept spending as if 500 students were enrolled, Williams said.

Gina Arlotto, who started the anti-charter school group Save Our Schools, said she’s disturbed by the school’s monetary woes but not entirely surprised because of subpar oversight over charter schools’ finances.

Where the 250 students will go is a big question. Arlotto pointed out that if they end up in D.C. public schools, more money won’t be added to the schools; yet the schools will be obligated to educate the students.

The options for Washington Academy are limited. School operators can request a public hearing or, they can simply relinquish the charter.

Washington Academy Executive Director Valerie Commisiong did not return phone calls from The Examiner Wednesday. But during a Monday meeting Commisiong expressed remorse about the rushed way in which the school opened. After finding the facility in June 2005, she said higher-ups recruited staff and teachers in a mere month.

“We never should have opened when we did,” she said.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com