State Auditor David Yost wants to recover more than 60 thousand dollars in start-up money from operators of two Columbus charter schools that closed nearly three years ago. The schools allegedly submitted inaccurate student attendance data to the state. Jim Letizia reports.
Yost says the Talented Tenth Leadership Academy for Girls and the Talented Tenth Leadership Academy for Boys got the money from the Ohio Department of Education, but it should have been returned when the schools failed to enroll a minimum number of students. The schools' director, Andre Tucker, was found guilty of two counts of theft for stealing 75 hundred dollars in state money. He was also ordered to make restitution. The department ordered the closure of the schools in the fall of 2013 citing health and safety reasons following several visits from department employees. State officials say the schools were also inadequately staffed, and they heard reports of several significant fights. Officials also say meals were not served at regular times, and those meals were often purchased at fast food restaurants.
