Editorial: Best for the job or is pick for Innovative District school operator a conflict?

Wednesday, April 4, 2018 -- If the Innovative School District has any chance at success, the state Board of Education needs to stop to the selection of Achievement for All Children to run the Robeson County elementary school. It should re-open the process, seek more potential operators and give them a thorough and open evaluation. If no more than two potential operators apply in the second-time-around, that should be a clear signal that the program has very serious flaws and real concerns over conflicts of interest. Those flaws should be identified and addressed or the program should be scrapped.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Apr 4, 2018 — Updated 6:08 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

CBC Editorial: Wednesday, April 4, 2018; Editorial # 8285

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company

A North Carolina legislator introduces a bill and it becomes law.

A not-for-profit company was formed following the new law's enactment. The sponsor is on the board of directors of the business that could directly benefit from the law. One of the key backers of the business is also a significant contributor to the legislator’s campaign.

That business bids on getting a government contract that’s directly related to the law.

There are just two bids on the work. After a review, the legislator’s business gets the job.

That’s not hypothetical to illustrate the potential of, if not an actual, conflict of interest.

It is what’s really happened in the awarding of the first contract to operate the first school in the “Innovative School District” – an initiative that removes low-performing schools from control of the local school board -- sponsored by then Rep. Rob Bryan, R-Mecklenburg.

The State Board of Education meets today and is poised to hire Achievement for All Children as the operator of Southside-Ashpole Elementary School in Robeson County on the recommendation of Innovative School District Superintendent Eric Hall.

The process thus far has been particularly troubling since the Innovative School District concept is just being launched and because it involves children in low performing public schools – places that should be the focus of the best education help, not the best political deal, possible.

Bryan, who lost re-election in 2016, is on the board of directors of Achievement for All Children. The CEO of Achievement for All Children is Tony Helton, who had been a member of the state Charter School Advisory Board until last October and is CEO of TeamCFA, a network of charter school operators founded by John Bryan – the contributor to Rob Bryan’s campaign.

Hall says two companies, Achievement for All Children, a non-profit based in Rutherford County and The Romine Group, a for-profit out of Michigan, were subject to a thorough evaluation by a third party, SchoolWorks. Following the evaluations, Achievement for All Children was recommended.

That recommendation came after an initial evaluation that showed neither group met expectations. Following that review, based on additional information, Achievement for All Children was rated to meet expectations in 4 of 11 sets of criteria while The Romine Group met expectations in 2 of 11.

Hall conducted a second round of information and review. He said Achievement for All Students showed “a very strong commitment to implement a comprehensive system of support to serve the needs of all students at Southside Ashpole. I am confident of their curriculum plan as presented.” A remarkable turnaround.

That is a lot of optimism with little track record or evidence to back it up.

The Innovative School District has faced enough challenges in its against-the-odds effort at launching. Communities where takeovers were proposed vehemently opposed it. It was only under the threat that schools might be closed, that a single elementary school in Robeson County has acquiesced.

If the Innovative School District has any chance at success, the state Board of Education needs to bring a stop to the selection of Achievement for All Children to run the school. It should re-open the process, seek more potential operators and give them a full and open evaluation.

If the state Board unwisely moves ahead with hiring Achievement for All Children, the Office of State Budget and Management should do a thorough review of the organization and any conflicts of interest before releasing a penny for the program.

Suggest A Correction