(Ed.'s Note: At one time, Tom Torkelson used to claim that the school boards of South Texas were extravagant and abusive of the public funds they got to teach children. Now it turns out that he isn't a above reaching into the cookie jar himself and giving himself and his administrators a few perks. How things change and stay the same.)
By Jacob Carpenter
Houston Chronicle
Several weeks after IDEA Public Schools nixed plans to spend millions of dollars on a charter jet lease, the charter network’s leader announced the end of additional “hard to defend” spending practices Thursday, including the purchase of tickets and a luxury box for events at San Antonio’s AT&T Center.
In a letter sent to IDEA’s 7,000-plus employees, CEO Tom Torkelson apologized for spending patterns that have brought unflattering attention to the state’s largest charter school organization. The network’s since-reversed decision to ink an eight-year aircraft lease and its spending on San Antonio Spurs games have drawn criticism from the Texas AFT, an umbrella organization for teachers unions throughout the state.
“Some of IDEA’s biggest fans have been telling me lately that a number of decisions I’ve made as CEO were really dumb and unhelpful,” Torkelson wrote in his letter. “It’s been hard to hear, but they’re right.”
IDEA officials said they will not renew an agreement with Spurs Sports and Entertainment for the tickets and luxury box once the basketball team’s season ends in the spring. More than 1,000 employees have received tickets each season, with the “lion’s share” going to campus-level staff and students. The accommodations cost about $400,000 this year, paid for with private funds, IDEA officials said.![IDEA officials said they will not renew an agreement with Spurs Sports and Entertainment for the tickets and luxury box once the basketball team’s season ends in the spring.]()
In addition, IDEA no longer will allow business deals between the network and high-level leaders and their relatives — which have occurred on at least eight occasions in the past four years.
In a letter sent to IDEA’s 7,000-plus employees, CEO Tom Torkelson apologized for spending patterns that have brought unflattering attention to the state’s largest charter school organization. The network’s since-reversed decision to ink an eight-year aircraft lease and its spending on San Antonio Spurs games have drawn criticism from the Texas AFT, an umbrella organization for teachers unions throughout the state.
“Some of IDEA’s biggest fans have been telling me lately that a number of decisions I’ve made as CEO were really dumb and unhelpful,” Torkelson wrote in his letter. “It’s been hard to hear, but they’re right.”
IDEA officials said they will not renew an agreement with Spurs Sports and Entertainment for the tickets and luxury box once the basketball team’s season ends in the spring. More than 1,000 employees have received tickets each season, with the “lion’s share” going to campus-level staff and students. The accommodations cost about $400,000 this year, paid for with private funds, IDEA officials said.
In addition, IDEA no longer will allow business deals between the network and high-level leaders and their relatives — which have occurred on at least eight occasions in the past four years.
Most notably, IDEA’s recommended uniform vendor in the Rio Grande Valley since 2012 has been RGV Pro Direct, a company partially owned by IDEA Chief Operations Officer Irma Muñoz’s husband. Muñoz said earlier this month that her husband sold his 50 percent stake in the company at the end of 2019.
Patty Quinzi, legislative counsel for the Texas AFT, said some of IDEA’s spending practices illustrate the need for additional state oversight. Unlike traditional independent school districts, charter schools are governed by private nonprofits.
“It’s really puzzling that there are no questions from state leadership as to why this is OK,” Quinzi said. “With (traditional) public schools, at least there’s elected governance that has to be in the same city.”
Torkelson and other IDEA leaders have defended their spending practices in recent weeks, calling them part of the charter’s more business-like ethos.
Patty Quinzi, legislative counsel for the Texas AFT, said some of IDEA’s spending practices illustrate the need for additional state oversight. Unlike traditional independent school districts, charter schools are governed by private nonprofits.
“It’s really puzzling that there are no questions from state leadership as to why this is OK,” Quinzi said. “With (traditional) public schools, at least there’s elected governance that has to be in the same city.”
Torkelson and other IDEA leaders have defended their spending practices in recent weeks, calling them part of the charter’s more business-like ethos.
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