Could they(Zelman & the Board) have exercised more governance OR did they have the authority? Which is it??

Gov. Ted Strickland said he supports Padgett's proposal and department efforts to "exercise more governance over charter schools," but he thinks that state Superintendent Susan T. Zelman and the State Board of Education have been reluctant to do so.

They don't have "the kind of authority that I think they're entitled to have and need in order to exercise the kind of oversight that is called for," Strickland said.

STATE BATTLE AGAINST 'UNAUDITABLE' RECORDS
Charters get schooled in bookkeeping
Thursday, July 26, 2007
By Catherine Candisky
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

When the Harte Crossroads charter schools in Columbus closed this year, their financial records were in such disarray that they could not be audited.

That means taxpayers have no idea how their money was spent.

About two dozen of the state's 311 charter schools are "unauditable." State auditors have been unable to review the finances of one in Cleveland for nearly four years.

Charter-school supporters say those few bad apples undermine Ohio's growing system of privately operated, tax-funded schools.

"These schools threaten the success of those doing a good job," said state Auditor Mary Taylor.

In an effort to make charter schools more accountable for the public money they receive and to reduce the number with auditing problems, Taylor is hosting four regional training sessions.

The goal, she said, is to protect public money and promote better fiscal practices, which should help more schools stay in business.

The 70 principals, treasurers and managers attending a session in Columbus yesterday learned how to manage their money, prevent fraud, prepare financial forecasts and get ready for annual state audits.

None of those attending appeared to represent any of the unauditable schools, but Taylor said the turnout was a good start.

School closings and unaccounted-for tax dollars, as at Harte Crossroads, have been lightning rods for criticism from charter-school opponents.

Taylor, a charter-school supporter, and other state leaders are pushing a variety of reforms aimed at improving fiscal accountability.

Ohio's recently adopted state budget includes two such provisions. One requires the Ohio Department of Education to stop state aid to charter schools deemed unauditable. The other prohibits charter-school sponsors from taking on new schools if they have one that is unauditable.

"It's been very frustrating," Taylor said. "Previously, we could only issue a letter and didn't really have any ability to hold people accountable."

Meanwhile, state Sen. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton, has proposed giving the Education Department more authority over charter schools. Her plan would allow the agency to sanction sponsors who fail to meet state performance requirements.

"We're not trying to close down charter schools," Padgett said. "Parents have a right to a choice, but … they need to know that schools are accountable. It makes no sense to move from a poorly operated public school to a poorly operated charter school."

Like Taylor, Education Department officials say they feel they do not have adequate authority to deal with poor-performing charter schools.

"We call it the fly-swatter and the atomic bomb," Todd Hanes, executive director of the department's Office of Community Schools, said jokingly. "We can suggest improvements … or we can completely revoke their ability to be a sponsor."

State regulators have never banned a sponsor.

Gov. Ted Strickland said he supports Padgett's proposal and department efforts to "exercise more governance over charter schools," but he thinks that state Superintendent Susan T. Zelman and the State Board of Education have been reluctant to do so.

They don't have "the kind of authority that I think they're entitled to have and need in order to exercise the kind of oversight that is called for," Strickland said.

Dispatch reporter Mark Niquette contributed to this story. ccandisky@dispatch.com