Funds Misuse, Nepotism Feared at Texas Charter Schools
Focus Learning Academy, a charter school tucked in a strip mall in Dallas’ Red Bird area, takes pride in teaching students with learning disabilities. For founder and Superintendent Leroy McClure, whose brother struggled with a learning disability, it’s a personal mission.
McClure earns $146,000 to run the school of about 700 students, about $50,000 more than the typical superintendent of a traditional Texas school district that size.
In addition, McClure’s wife, Yvette, receives $100,000 from the school for consulting work and sits on the school board. His brother serves as Focus Academy’s facilities manager, and his sister is a teacher there.
Focus demonstrates the hope for charter schools in Texas but also some common concerns.
The hope is that grass-roots nonprofit groups can create niche public schools that provide new and exciting educational choices for parents and students. And many have.
The fear is that the freedoms granted to charter schools allow hefty salaries, nepotism and potential abuse of the public’s money.
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