ST. LOUIS – As the state audits the Saint Louis Public School District, the Local 420 Teacher’s Union wants the auditor to expand his scope.
In a letter signed by several state lawmakers, the union’s President Ray Cummings asks for an equal audit of Missouri’s 37 charter schools.
“It just makes sense to me that they need to understand whether their money is being used wisely or not or whether its being sent down a rathole,” Cummings said.
In 2024, the state of Missouri is giving charter schools more than $355 million, and traditional public schools are getting $3.9 billion. In his letter, Cummings says almost half of the charter schools in Saint Louis have eventually closed.
“What happens when they close those schools and they have millions of dollars in the bank? They have furniture, computers that they bought with the public money. Nobody seems to know where any of that stuff goes,” he said.
Miranda Ming is the executive director of Momentum Academy, a Saint Louis-based charter school.
“We all are subject to the same oversight, and what a value that is to our families that they can feel confident that no matter what school they choose within the city boundary, that the schools do have oversight,” she said.
By state law, charter schools need to operate as nonprofits and use financing practices consistent with the Missouri Financial Accounting Manual. That includes an annual audit and fiscal report that are publicly available.
Charter schools have closed over the years for a number of reasons. Noah Devine, executive director of the Missouri Charter Public School Association, says when that happens, schools are meant to follow a certain protocol.
“We know and understand that can be a challenging thing for a family. No one wants to lose their school, and so the first priority is making sure every family has what they need for what their new option might look like,” he said.
Beyond that, law requires that a closing charter school satisfy all its financial obligations within 12 months and then return any remaining state and federal funding. Any other assets in the building are meant to be handed over to the local school district for use. Cummings wants to know that these laws are being followed.
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, since we’re all using public money in Saint Louis in order to educate our kids,” Cummings said.
FOX 2 called the state auditor’s office. They said they have not yet received the letter requesting the audit.
