An open letter to the North Carolina State Board of Education on Phil Berger Jr's 7/10/14 Charter School Agenda Item

Concerning item "II. C. 1. a. LFI 1 -- One-Year Delay for [Phil Berger Jr's] Providence Charter High School"

From the Agenda Item Attachment:

"In January 2014, the State Board of Education granted final approval to ...[Phil Berger Jr's] Providence Charter High School in Rockingham County.

...Providence Charter High School, Inc. – has notified the Office of Charter Schools regarding unexpected delays in the acquisition of a proposed facility.  ...they see that they are not currently ready to open and serve students.  ...they need additional time.

Thus, the nonprofit is requesting that the State Board of Education grant them a one-year delay in opening the charter school.

Recommendation;

The Office of Charter Schools, [whose board has been stacked by Phil Berger Sr.], recommends that the State Board of Education approve this one-year delay by the [Phil Berger Jr.] Providence Charter High School."

From the letter Providence Charter High School wrote to the NC School Board asking for an extension;

The letter from taxpayer funded Rockingham County District Attorney Phil Berger Jr's Charter School Board says they have been in "conversation" with Rockingham County leadership to gain access to a taxpayer owned high school building.

By recently enacted law, Phil Berger Sr. was given authority to appoint three board members to the Public Charter School Advisory Council, which last year approved Phil Berger Jr's school.

The board members listed as being appointed by Berger Sr. include;

1. Paul Norcross, Phil Berger Jr's Chief Political Adviser and co-founder of the N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools, who personally profits from his charter school, gave himself a no-bid management contract, was denied a charter school due to "conflict of interest", and skipped the meeting when Berger Jr's school was approved by the Council.

2. Baker Mitchell, who also personally profits from his charter schools, who is also president of the N.C. Alliance for Public Charter schools, which Phil Berger Jr. is involved along with Paul Norcross, and Mitchell is also under investigation by the Department of Education 

And 3. Alan Hawkes, a for profit charter school supporter, who made the motion to approve Phil Berger Jr's charter school, in what appears to be a violation of North Carolina Public Charter School Advisory Council Rules
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Furthermore, it appears Phil Berger Jr's Charter received preferential treatment from the Public Charter School Advisory Council as the minutes of the Council show when his school was approved;

The Public Charter School Advisory Council has so far been unable to produce the "packet of information" distributed at the meeting.

The Public Charter School Advisory Council has so far failed to ascertain why Baker Mitchell was not present at the meeting.

I believe the Public Charter School Advisory Council gave Phil Berger Jr. preferential treatment concerning his application.

I believe the North Carolina School Board needs to investigate what looks like Regulatory Capture by the taxpayer funded Phil Bergers in this case before an extension for the school be approved.

I believe Phil Berger Jr. needs to say whether or not he stands to profit, personally, by tax break or otherwise financially benefit from his approved Providence Charter High School, or for any Phil Berger Jr. linked taxpayer funded charter school, before an extension is approved.

Yours,

George Hartzman
July 9, 2014
Greeensboro, North Carolina