IDEA Public Schools, which has 15 campuses in San Antonio and is the largest charter network in Texas, is under the direction of two state-appointed conservators after years of investigation into the district by the Texas Education Agency.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath notified IDEA officials about the appointment of a management team made up of two conservators in a letter Wednesday.
Christopher Ruszkowski, the CEO of Meeting Street Schools in South Carolina, is the lead conservator and David Lee, an education consultant, is a supporting conservator, according to the letter.
Ruszkowski also previously served as New Mexico’s Secretary of Education.
The officials will be paid $125 per hour, plus necessary travel expenses by the charter network, according to the letter.
The move comes after multiple investigations into the district beginning in 2021 focused on “financial and operational impropriety.”
The agency gave the two appointees broad powers in their directive to the charter, including:
- Overseeing and directing any action of the district and/or governance team;
- Facilitating a needs assessment of the district and governance systems;
- Conducting on-site inspections during the period of the placement;
- Supporting the creation of a plan to address corrective action concerns outlined in the needs assessment;
- Reporting to the agency on the progress toward completing activities in any corrective action plan and all governance activities of the district;
- Directing the board to remove board members in the event of observed board member misconduct, and further directing appointment of replacement board member(s); and
- Reporting findings of fact that rise to the level of material violations of law or rule to the Commissioner of Education.
Reports over the course of the investigation revealed that top IDEA officials spent public dollars on lavish expenditures, including for the lease of a private jet. Ongoing corrective action plans related to special education are in effect as well, according to the agency.
In a statement, IDEA Public Schools said it was “pleased to have reached a settlement agreement with the Texas Education Agency,” chocking up the various compliance issues to a culture overly focused on growth.
“Before 2020, the priority at IDEA was rapid growth, but there lacked a parallel emphasis on ensuring that the funds fueling that growth were properly administered and documented as required by law,” the statement said. “IDEA has since installed new board members and executive leadership, enlarged the staff responsible for grant management and compliance, and strengthened internal controls and auditing procedures.”
The charter has also agreed to return $28.7 million in federal grants to the U.S. Department of Education as part of the settlement. The payments are being made in installments through December 2026.
Officials said the settlement allows for the charter network to move forward after a difficult chapter.
“Reaching settlement agreements with the Department of Education and TEA closes a difficult chapter for IDEA so we can continue to notch wins for the students that have always been central to IDEA’s mission,” the statement said.
