Profiteering CyberSchool CEO/Corbett's largest donor, reaping tens of millions off school kids

Heads up, voters, a news article earlier this week reported that the GOP majority in both chambers is poised to bring the charter access provision back before Penna. legislature, and it would protect profiteering cyber school executives.

October 10, 2012|By Dan Hardy, Inquirer Staff Writer.

"A controversial proposal that would deny public access to records of private managers of charter schools has surfaced again in the Pennsylvania legislature after it was rebuffed during the summer.

"Disagreement over the proposed exemption to the state's Right-to-Know law was one of the reasons that a package of charter law changes submitted in late June was shelved until this fall.

"It says the Right-to-Know law applies to charters, "except records of vendors of local agencies shall not be accessible." Charter schools are listed as local
agencies in the Right-to-Know law. "Vendors" would include private management groups that run charter schools.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-10-10/news/34343794_1_charter-law-charter-schools-public-access

Interesting, isn't it, that according to a website tracking campaign contributions, Corbett's biggest individual campaign donor is the biggest cyber school operator in the state:
"GUREGHIAN, VAHAN H.
Total Given to Date: $429,964 (32 records).
Contributor Type: Individual.
Address: GLADWYNE, PA.
Employer: CHARTER SCHOOL MANAGEMENT CORP CHARTER SCHOOL MANAGEMENT INC.
Employers Listed: VARIOUS.

Occupations Listed: ATTORNEY, CEO, VICE PRESIDENT.
http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor.phtml?d=984853965''

Mr. Gureghian has found the charter school business far more profitable than practicing law & appears to have made it into the One PerCent, witness his palatial mansions on Philadelphia's main line and in Palm Beach, Florida. The little Phillie bungalow:
" At 30,652 square feet, a French-inspired brick-and-limestone mansion in Gladwyne built by Vahan H. Gureghian is one of the largest homes on the Main Line, surpassing the famed Ardrossan homestead in Radnor and the former residence of Walter Annenberg in Wynnewood, now owned by Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.

"Gureghian, a lawyer who operates the state's largest charter school, Chester Community Charter, built the home on 7 1/4 acres on Merion Square Road.

"It features 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, four wood-burning fireplaces, a two-lane bowling alley, a wine room, a media room, several bars, a "great hall" that can hold 200 guests, and a moat."
http://articles.philly.com/2008-12-28/news/25243489_1_fund-raisers-charter-school-mansion
One awed GOP County Supervisor compared it to Versailles. What a swell place for a fund-raiser!

Next time anyone who voted for Corbett is in Palm Beach (that's Florida), drop in on Gureghian's estate there and ask if you can bowl a few lines. Tell him Tommy sent you. It's yet another little 30,000 sq. ft. bungalow - sort of Versailles South.
"Gureghian purchased these two homes in 2011 for a combined $28.9M. He has submitted plans to the city of Palm Beach for a 30,000 sq ft estate to be built over both lots which will include a 2 lane bowling alley in the basement.'
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/vahan-h-gureghians-houses/

Just the American Dream, GOP style - being able to make tens of millions of dollars out of taking over public schools and turning them into charter schools, while paying teachers less. Brings a tear to the eye! If anyone can buy all the protective legislation his heart desires in Corbett's Pennsylvania, it's gotta be this guy.