Ohio charter school operator fights ruling on records

COLUMBUS (AP) — A private management company that operates a group of publicly funded charter schools will appeal an Ohio judge’s order that it turn over financial records requested by the schools’ governing boards as part of a lawsuit.

The ruling set a deadline of March 6 for Akron-based White Hat Management LLC.

The Columbus Dispatch reports attorneys for White Hat want the decision put on hold while they appeal it. They say the ruling would force them to release trade secrets and other confidential information.

The dispute is part of a lawsuit by privately operated schools in Akron and Cleveland. An attorney for the schools says they want the accounting information to help guide decisions about the schools and check that taxpayer money was spent appropriately.