More Unrest At Twin Falls Charter School

Turmoil at a Twin Falls charter school continues after many of the school’s educators sent a letter to various officials expressing concern over some of the procedures.  The Times News reports in today’s edition that  some Xavier Charter School teachers question whether the $200,000 the Twin Falls school pays for yearly administration services is money well spent. The story says that in a  letter addressed to Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, public schools chief Tom Luna and the Better Business Bureau sent Thursday, 22 Xavier educators allege Paragon Schools of deviating from its 2008 contract to handle school bookkeeping, financial reports and other administration duties.  Some of the allegations in the letter  claim Paragon lacks transparency in its handling of school funds and also question Paragon’s relationship with school landlord Jed Stevenson, owner of Utah-based charter management company Academica West.  This letter comes just one week after Xavier School Board Trustee Joan Hurlock questioned Paragon’s handling of state funding, claiming the school board lost track of nearly $330,000 in state funding as it was funneled through an account outside of board purview.  The next board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 10.