local paper uses pointe schools

In the September 2, 2007 edition of the Arizona Republic, Pointe Educational Services (known as Pointe Schools
since June of 2006) was portrayed as a charter school company with a history of inflated student counts and
controversial spending.

Although most of the information in the article is a least a year old and the story was written last spring, when many
parents and community members were focusing on summer vacations, the Arizona Republic decided to hold the
article until the beginning of the new school year when it could be combined with several articles that reflect
negatively on charter schools in Arizona.

“My initial reaction was hesitation when the newspaper first approached me for an interview,” said Pointe Schools
Superintendent Jody Johnson. “I was, and am, fully aware of the newspapers’ tendency to put Charter Schools in a
negative light when the opportunity presents itself. However, most if not all, of the information they were requesting
was public record and I understood that they were going to use Pointe Educational Services to make their point
about charter school funding procedures with or without my cooperation.”

“I decided that it would be in the best interest of Pointe Schools to be transparent with the Arizona Republic and
hope that the efforts we have taken to correct our problems would receive just as much attention as any mistakes
that were made before I became Superintendent. I am very proud of the decisions I have made since taking the
helm of Pointe Schools on June 27, 2006 and the financial accountability procedures that I have implemented.
Although I disagree with the context by which the article is presented (that spending problems are unique to Charter
Schools and that District Schools are actually above financial misappropriations, theft, and fraud because of
additional regulations) I think Pat Kossan was very fair to Pointe Schools and accurately identified Pointe
Educational Services’ past failures while acknowledging our successful efforts to make things right.”

When asked if there was something she would correct or add to the article Johnson said, “I am sorry that Pointe
Educational Services’ problems prior to June 27, 2006 are apparently being used to affirm beliefs that the Arizona
State Board for Charter Schools is not functioning effectively when it comes to following up on audits. I do not
believe this is a fair or accurate characterization of the State Board for Charter Schools. District schools with layers
and layers of financial accountability and staffing still experience financial expenditure issues. Bureaucracy alone
rarely solves problems.”

“The article referred to the past year as difficult for us. It was,” continued Johnson. “Resolving the financial
problems that I inherited took discipline and sacrifice. Rearranging the staff to more accurately reflect our values
took time and determination. Maintaining our purpose and vision throughout this process took the entire Pointe
community working together.”

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