Privatization of Public Schools
21st Century Resurrection of the 19th Century Spoils System?
With the rapid expansion of charter school authorizations and public funding of private school programs, are we on the threshold of creating a 21st Century Spoils System? Is the dreadfully poor system of oversight of the use of public funds by charter schools and private schools an open invitation to rampant nepotism, favoritism and outright fraud?
Consider this example out of New Jersey
Christopher Baxter of the Star Ledger writes:The payroll at Somerset Hills School reads like a family tree, with 10 relatives sprinkled throughout. Four of them earn six-figure salaries. The cafeteria serves up a nice profit, paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for food to a company founded and owned by the school's executive director. Even the land and buildings are worth big bucks. The school paid nearly half a million dollars for rent in 2012, mostly to a company owned by its former executive director.
Tucked away amid lush green meadows in Warren Township, Somerset Hills is one of about 180 private schools across the state where more than 10,000 severely disabled children go for an education when their public schools can’t handle them.
Though Somerset Hills is privately owned and run, it’s like a public school in one simple way: You pay for all of it.
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/nj_private_schools_students_disabilities_spotty_oversight_high_salaries_nepotism_luxury_cars_busines.html?flv=1