Patrick Henry charter school gets clean audit

Officials for Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts will appear before the Richmond School Board today with a clean financial audit and a renewed dialogue with the public school system — and the governor's office.

The audit performed by Harris, Hardy & Johnstone gives the charter school's nonprofit organization an unqualified approval of its financial management for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011.

The South Richmond school had received a clean audit from a different accounting firm for the previous fiscal year, but the School Board has expressed strong concern about its financial stability and management.

"Two clean audits in a row — we're really proud of that," said Kristen Larson, a member of the Patrick Henry board and the school's spokeswoman.

The School Board will discuss the audit and accompanying financial statements for the current fiscal year at a work session today, but members have been talking privately since early January with Patrick Henry officials and the administration of Gov. Bob McDonnell.

McDonnell gave Patrick Henry $25,000 in unused funds from his 2010 inauguration and hosted a fundraiser for the school at the Executive Mansion. He has made charter schools a central part of his educational agenda.

Secretary of Education Laura Fornash and her deputy, Javaid Siddiqi, have met twice with members of the Patrick Henry and city school boards, as well as Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon, to talk about the state's first charter elementary school.

"It's no surprise we would have a vested interest in the charter school, given the governor's agenda," Fornash said Monday. "Most of what they're going through are some growing pains that we're learning from as well."

Those growing pains include the charter school's inability to oversee its own employees because they work for the school system, which would change under legislation supported by McDonnell and pending in the General Assembly.

The Richmond School Board asked for the legislation because of concerns expressed publicly by Patrick Henry officials about their lack of authority over the school's employees, such as Principal Pamela L. Boyd, who has been on personal leave for most of the school year after a rocky first year on the job.

The School Board has its own concerns, which it outlined in a letter to Patrick Henry parents in mid-December. The letter raised concerns among parents and teachers about the future of the school, now in its second year.

While the Parent-Teacher Association has asked for direct dialogue with the School Board and administration, Patrick Henry board members have been talking with both and Fornash.

"There was quite a lot of discussion about relationship-building and trust-building, and how important communication is," said Larson, who attended the first meeting in January but not a follow-up meeting last week.

Richmond Public Schools spokeswoman Felicia Cosby said the discussions were "part of ongoing efforts to ensure the success of the school and the RPS students it serves through a collaborative review of what is working and areas needing improvement."

Fornash emphasized that she and Siddiqi are not acting as facilitators between the two boards, but began the dialogue at a reception in early January for the reopening of the former Patrick Henry Elementary School, renovated as the charter school's home.

"It seemed like a good opportunity to get together," said the secretary, who called the meetings "very productive."

"At the end of the day, they all focused on the same goal and what's best for students," she said. "Everyone at the meetings has really rallied around that point."