VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla.,None — The state Department of Education and the Volusia County School District have launched separate investigations of the Reading Star Academy of Excellence K-5 charter school in Orange City.
As WFTV's Jeff Deal reports, the school is being run by the same people who managed another school that was shut down for misuse of funds.
Grandparents and parents said they were not aware that the same two women listed as officers at Reading Star ran the Imani Charter School, which was shut down in Orange County last year, in part because of mismanagement of funds.
"I'm not aware of that, but it's nice to know that," Willie Dominguez said.
The Imani School was $400,000 in debt. Ardonnis Lumpkin was an advisor for both schools.
Volusia County Public Schools and the state Department of Education are looking into the school.
The school district is not calling this an official investigation, but it did confirm it has been in talks with top leaders from the charter school because of this situation.
Wolfgang Halbig opened the first charter school in Florida. He said there are good charter schools, but state laws make it easy for schools to spend money with little oversight.
"You see it over and over throughout the state. Have one charter school, they close down, and all of a sudden open up and leave the first school with a half million in debt. They change the name, but the players don't change," Halbig said.
While he doesn't know the situation at Reading Star, he said he believes some operators are living large large on the taxpayers' dime.
"A principal of a school of 180 kids, she could say, 'I want a salary of $250,000.' Who is going to stop it?" Halbig said.
Parents at Reading Star said they hope it isn't happening there. There is no evidence of wrongdoing at the school in Volusia County. The school district said it just wants to make sure that everything is "on track."
WFTV
