Public raises concerns about Highlands Charter audit, potential recoupment and oversight
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Speakers urged Twin Rivers to weigh material revision, revocation, renewal and recoupment for Highlands Community Charter after citing a JLAC audit and possible CDE clawback; the board heard that appeals to EAAP may lead to a hearing next spring or summer.
Public comment at the board meeting called attention to recent audit findings about Highlands Community Charter and urged trustees to consider strict oversight and possible recoupment.
Araceli Perez told trustees that a June 24 JLAC audit "found that Highlands' oversight allowed Highlands to inappropriately receive more than $180,000,000 in K-12 public funding," and said the California Department of Education (CDE) has signaled that a clawback or repayment could follow. "Recoupment is essential to restoring trust and protecting taxpayer resources," Perez said, and she recommended adding 'recoupment' to the list of considerations when evaluating Highlands (material revision, revocation, renewal).
Perez said matters related to the state funding determination are under appeal to the Education Audit Appeals Panel (EAAP) and that a hearing is anticipated "late next spring or early summer." Jonathan Raymond (presented in the record as executive director at Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools) acknowledged past mistakes at Highlands and asked the board to give the charter a chance to present improvements and corrective actions.
The board did not take formal action on Highlands during this meeting; speakers asked trustees to weigh fiscal solvency and accountability as part of charter authorization or renewal decisions.
The claims about the JLAC audit and the $180,000,000 figure were presented in public comment and cited as part of an appeal process; the district and CDE processes governing audits and appeals will determine any final recoupment or repayment outcomes.