Mohip maintains professional reasons for certain contracts

By Amanda Tonoli | July 6, 2017 at 12:10a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

CEO Krish Mohip said his focus remains on improving Youngstown City Schools – not strengthening old business ties.

During last week’s Youngstown school board finance committee meeting, chairman Dario Hunter criticized the district’s involvement with Atlantic Research Partners, a firm Mohip hired to do a principal search for $12,500.

Mohip also hired ARP during his time with Chicago Public Schools.

Hunter cited ARP’s acquisition of The SUPES Academy, a training program for education leadership positions such as principals and superintendents.

SUPES was part of a multimillion-dollar kickback scandal that sent former owners Gary Solomon and Thomas Vranas and former Chicago Public Schools CEO and SUPES consultant Barbara Byrd-Bennett to prison for seven years, 18 months and four years, respectively.

Byrd-Bennett also was in charge of Chicago Public Schools while Mohip was employed there.

“My involvement with ARP does not extend beyond the professional realm,” Mohip said in a statement issued by the district. “My interest in this organization is based solely on its ability to support educational leaders in advancing student outcomes by providing expertise and a unique vantage point in assisting some of the country’s most challenged schools.”

Unbeknownst to Hunter and others, shortly after ARP acquired SUPES through an asset purchase agreement, ARP rescinded the agreement, dropping all ties, said David Sundstrom, ARP co-founder.

“The asset purchase agreement purchasing Gary [Solomon’s] business was rescinded in 2015 once we realized there was wrongdoing when the indictment came out,” Sundstrom said. “It was pretty disturbing to us.

“Once there is an omission like that, the asset has limited or no value. There was a failure to disclose, so we gave notice and stopped payment and that ended.”

Sundstrom added the only remaining connection between the companies was that SUPES licensed the same training material that ARP currently uses.

Brenda Kimble, board of education president, questions why contract services with a company when so many questions were bound to follow.

“Why would you even take a chance?” she asked. “Why not pick a company from Ohio?”

Mohip stands by his decision.

“I am focused on bringing the best educators to our district because our kids are in the greatest need,” he said. “I contracted with ARP to do just that – help me find high-quality principals for our high schools.”

Kimble added it seems Mohip just wants to use all the same channels and connections he used in Chicago.

“But his school district is still one of the worst in Chicago,” Kimble said.

According to data compiled by Chicago Public Schools, during Mohip’s time there in 2014 and 2015, reading scores in third through eighth grade improved an average of about 15 percent. Math scores in the same grades improved an average of about 17 percent.

In terms of any influence Chicago has on hiring, Sonya Gordon, the new East High principal for the 2017-18 school year, is a former curriculum consultant for the Cuyahoga County Educational Center and an Akron schools teacher of 11 years, assistant principal and principal for a combined five years – all of which while the schools struggled with low state test scores.

During her time in Akron, Gordon was able to help bring up the scores. Gordon is one of those principals found by Atlantic.

A Chaney High principal is expected to be selected next.

Mohip said in his statement it’s unfortunate his intentions related to ARP have been called into question, but he’s not surprised at “board of education members’ persistence in maligning every single decision I have made while serving this district,” he said.

“I continue to be disappointed in their effort to distract from the progress our teachers and students have made,” he said. “This attack on my character is among many that I have endured from this board of education from the outset of my employment. That said, I remain dedicated to my life’s work as an educator and focused on our Youngstown kids. I refuse to allow misrepresentations, wild accusations and unsubstantiated pronouncements to impede my mission to move this district forward.”

With regard to future contracts or agreements with ARP for services, Mohip said he is viewing and vetting several companies’ proposals and no decision has been made.

Part of his vetting process, he said, is done by a review team consisting of building principals, district leaders and teachers.