We have to give the good ole’ boys in Georgia credit for their unrelenting efforts to expose the Gulen boys’ shenanigans at the Fulton Science Academy Middle School – ultimately resulting in a slam dunk for Fulton County school board administrators and prosecutors. Not only have they shut FSAM down, they are now interested in auditing FSAM’s two sister schools, which will most likely uncover a similar list of illegal activities.
The audit was conducted by IAG Forensics, and cost the taxpayers $39,000 – money well spent considering the wealth of evidence that the auditors dug up.
The audit details a host of deceptive activities and school funding abuse that will most certainly gain not only the attention of Georgia law enforcement officials, but likewise be the catalyst that finally brings down the Gulen empire.
Pay particular attention to the audit’s report of the almost $80,000 in immigration fees that FSAM paid out for Turkish employees and their families who for the most part left the school within 6-12 months after receiving their work visas/green cards. They stayed just long enough to supplant American teachers/administrators and fleece taxpayers for their immigration fees.
And the audit questions the security measures that were not in place at FSAM. In particular, the audit questions the hiring of a school employee who had a criminal record that was neither investigated nor documented by the school. Likewise, the audit claims that criminal background checks were not done on the “chaperones” that accompanied FSAM students on tax payer funded trips to Turkey ($50,000 and up), potentially endangering the welfare of students.
The Turkey trips were of great interest, especially the part about the Turkish guys staying in Turkey for an additional 2-4 weeks (after American taxpayers paid their airfare over there).
The audit reports that FSAM’s staff consisted of 20% Turkish immigrant employees. Hmmm, and the unemployment rate in Georgia is 8.9%...
Again – and just so we’re clear here – the American tax payers are paying for their immigration fees, trips to Turkey, graduate degrees, giving them American jobs at higher wages, and subsidizing their money-laundering schemes – gratis, gratis, gratis.
This is only one school in one state.
There are another 125 Gulen-inspired schools in operation throughout the United States. If all of the Gulen-inspired schools plan an annual trip to Turkey at an average cost of $50,000, then the American taxpayer will have shelled out $ 6.25 million.
Likewise, if the average Gulen-inspired school spends $70,000 on immigration fees, the American taxpayers will pay $8.75 million.
The financial money drain is endless and complicated. Unless government officials continue to investigate and ultimately prosecute these criminals, the American public will continue to pay for Gulen’s illegal and immoral agenda.
For the complete audit report:
Go to http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public
Click on Jun 05, 2012 Board Work Session
Click View Agenda
Click 4.01 Superintendent's Report in left-hand column
Below is one of the sites on the story.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/audit-finds-pattern-misconduct-science-academy/nPMQm/
Audit into Science Academy could be headed to DA's office
By Mike Petchenik
ALPHARETTA, Ga. —
Fulton County Superintendent Robert Avossa said the findings of an audit into Fulton Science Academy Middle School are among the “most egregious” he’s ever seen, and could be referred to the District Attorney’s office for possible criminal prosecution.
“You’ve got to follow the rules,” Avossa said during a school board meeting Tuesday in which he presented the audit to board members.
The audit, released Tuesday, documents what school officials said was a pattern of alleged misconduct by school leaders at the Alpharetta math and science academy.
During the audit, which cost taxpayers $39,000 to complete, investigators noted that they “experienced an environment of resistance and obstructionism” from school staffers and parents as they poured over records and questioned school employees.
Auditors determined that a person in a position of authority, whom they did not name, had a “relevant finding of a criminal nature.” When auditors requested a copy of the employee’s background check, they noted they couldn’t determine whether the school actually ran a background check on the employee before hiring them. School board attorney Glenn Brock said he was awaiting a response from the school before releasing the name of the person in question.
In the 71-page report, obtained by Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik, auditors also determined school leaders handed out lucrative contracts to companies with ties to school officials without going through the proper public bidding process.
In one case, the audit said the school contracted with a vendor called “Grace Institute for Educational Research & Resources, Inc.,” even though three school employees, including its principal and executive director, sat on the board of the company. Auditors found the school paid Grace nearly $240,000 even though the company only employed a receptionist and information technology specialist.
“It’s unclear what services can provide to its member schools with only two paid staff members, neither experienced in many of the service areas Grace contracted to provide to FSAMS,” auditors wrote.
In another case, the school contracted with a company called Atlantic Wind Group to handle web design and video services. Auditors learned the company’s owner is a former computer science teacher at FSAMS.
Auditors also determined that about 20% of the school’s employees were brought in from Turkey, and that the school paid an immigration attorney to handle immigration issues for the employees and their families, some of whom left the school shortly after their immigration issues had been resolved.
The audit also raises questions about three school-sanctioned field trips to Turkey. Auditors questioned why the school didn’t run criminal background checks on adults who went on trip, and why several of the adults who went, with their airfare paid by the school, didn’t return with the students when the trip ended.
“It is further unknown as to the purpose of providing free airfare for those who apparently stayed longer, possibly on vacation,” auditors wrote.
In a letter to the Fulton County school board, Avossa indicated he would like to audit the schools sister campuses, Fulton Sunshine Academy and Fulton Science Academy High School to “gauge whether similar wrongdoing is taking place at those schools.”
Last year, Fulton County schools declined to renew the school’s charter after FSMAS refused to accept a three-year agreement instead of the 10-year charter it sought. Then, last month, the State Board of Education denied the school’s bid for a state charter, citing concerns about spending and leadership. The school will go private after its charter runs out June 30.
Avossa told Petchenik he believes the relationship between the county, the state and FSMAS “failed.”
“It is a great concern of mine,” he said. “Our constituents invest dollars in public schools and charter schools are public schools.”
Petchenik visited the school several times and left several messages for school officials Tuesday, but none were returned.
Late Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reached FSAMS governance board member Ayhan Korucu. He said he had just received the audit.
“It wouldn’t be too smart for me to respond,” said Korucu. “Unfortunately, this came in late for me. We can’t talk about it before I read it. We’ll have a press release.”
The audit was conducted by IAG Forensics, and cost the taxpayers $39,000 – money well spent considering the wealth of evidence that the auditors dug up.
The audit details a host of deceptive activities and school funding abuse that will most certainly gain not only the attention of Georgia law enforcement officials, but likewise be the catalyst that finally brings down the Gulen empire.
Pay particular attention to the audit’s report of the almost $80,000 in immigration fees that FSAM paid out for Turkish employees and their families who for the most part left the school within 6-12 months after receiving their work visas/green cards. They stayed just long enough to supplant American teachers/administrators and fleece taxpayers for their immigration fees.
And the audit questions the security measures that were not in place at FSAM. In particular, the audit questions the hiring of a school employee who had a criminal record that was neither investigated nor documented by the school. Likewise, the audit claims that criminal background checks were not done on the “chaperones” that accompanied FSAM students on tax payer funded trips to Turkey ($50,000 and up), potentially endangering the welfare of students.
The Turkey trips were of great interest, especially the part about the Turkish guys staying in Turkey for an additional 2-4 weeks (after American taxpayers paid their airfare over there).
The audit reports that FSAM’s staff consisted of 20% Turkish immigrant employees. Hmmm, and the unemployment rate in Georgia is 8.9%...
Again – and just so we’re clear here – the American tax payers are paying for their immigration fees, trips to Turkey, graduate degrees, giving them American jobs at higher wages, and subsidizing their money-laundering schemes – gratis, gratis, gratis.
This is only one school in one state.
There are another 125 Gulen-inspired schools in operation throughout the United States. If all of the Gulen-inspired schools plan an annual trip to Turkey at an average cost of $50,000, then the American taxpayer will have shelled out $ 6.25 million.
Likewise, if the average Gulen-inspired school spends $70,000 on immigration fees, the American taxpayers will pay $8.75 million.
The financial money drain is endless and complicated. Unless government officials continue to investigate and ultimately prosecute these criminals, the American public will continue to pay for Gulen’s illegal and immoral agenda.
For the complete audit report:
Go to http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public
Click on Jun 05, 2012 Board Work Session
Click View Agenda
Click 4.01 Superintendent's Report in left-hand column
Below is one of the sites on the story.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/audit-finds-pattern-misconduct-science-academy/nPMQm/
Audit into Science Academy could be headed to DA's office
By Mike Petchenik
ALPHARETTA, Ga. —
Fulton County Superintendent Robert Avossa said the findings of an audit into Fulton Science Academy Middle School are among the “most egregious” he’s ever seen, and could be referred to the District Attorney’s office for possible criminal prosecution.
“You’ve got to follow the rules,” Avossa said during a school board meeting Tuesday in which he presented the audit to board members.
The audit, released Tuesday, documents what school officials said was a pattern of alleged misconduct by school leaders at the Alpharetta math and science academy.
During the audit, which cost taxpayers $39,000 to complete, investigators noted that they “experienced an environment of resistance and obstructionism” from school staffers and parents as they poured over records and questioned school employees.
Auditors determined that a person in a position of authority, whom they did not name, had a “relevant finding of a criminal nature.” When auditors requested a copy of the employee’s background check, they noted they couldn’t determine whether the school actually ran a background check on the employee before hiring them. School board attorney Glenn Brock said he was awaiting a response from the school before releasing the name of the person in question.
In the 71-page report, obtained by Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik, auditors also determined school leaders handed out lucrative contracts to companies with ties to school officials without going through the proper public bidding process.
In one case, the audit said the school contracted with a vendor called “Grace Institute for Educational Research & Resources, Inc.,” even though three school employees, including its principal and executive director, sat on the board of the company. Auditors found the school paid Grace nearly $240,000 even though the company only employed a receptionist and information technology specialist.
“It’s unclear what services can provide to its member schools with only two paid staff members, neither experienced in many of the service areas Grace contracted to provide to FSAMS,” auditors wrote.
In another case, the school contracted with a company called Atlantic Wind Group to handle web design and video services. Auditors learned the company’s owner is a former computer science teacher at FSAMS.
Auditors also determined that about 20% of the school’s employees were brought in from Turkey, and that the school paid an immigration attorney to handle immigration issues for the employees and their families, some of whom left the school shortly after their immigration issues had been resolved.
The audit also raises questions about three school-sanctioned field trips to Turkey. Auditors questioned why the school didn’t run criminal background checks on adults who went on trip, and why several of the adults who went, with their airfare paid by the school, didn’t return with the students when the trip ended.
“It is further unknown as to the purpose of providing free airfare for those who apparently stayed longer, possibly on vacation,” auditors wrote.
In a letter to the Fulton County school board, Avossa indicated he would like to audit the schools sister campuses, Fulton Sunshine Academy and Fulton Science Academy High School to “gauge whether similar wrongdoing is taking place at those schools.”
Last year, Fulton County schools declined to renew the school’s charter after FSMAS refused to accept a three-year agreement instead of the 10-year charter it sought. Then, last month, the State Board of Education denied the school’s bid for a state charter, citing concerns about spending and leadership. The school will go private after its charter runs out June 30.
Avossa told Petchenik he believes the relationship between the county, the state and FSMAS “failed.”
“It is a great concern of mine,” he said. “Our constituents invest dollars in public schools and charter schools are public schools.”
Petchenik visited the school several times and left several messages for school officials Tuesday, but none were returned.
Late Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reached FSAMS governance board member Ayhan Korucu. He said he had just received the audit.
“It wouldn’t be too smart for me to respond,” said Korucu. “Unfortunately, this came in late for me. We can’t talk about it before I read it. We’ll have a press release.”