Philly charter school faces lawsuit for awarding contract to a board member’s associate and retaliating against the whistleblower who reported it.
In a developing situation at the Alliance for Progress Charter School in North Philadelphia, the director of business and compliance, Raheem Harvey, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit claiming that he was subjected to retaliation after exposing significant compliance issues within the organization. Harvey’s allegations, detailed in a lawsuit lodged in the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, include violations of state and local bidding laws, improper contract approvals, and failures to adhere to enrollment procedures.
Harvey commenced his role at the charter school in February 2023. By August, he reported what he described as serious irregularities to school officials, including the issuance of a contract worth over ,000 to a vendor for playground services, allegedly awarded without competitive bidding. This contract reportedly involved a vendor who is a close friend of one of the school’s board members, which Harvey claims constituted a clear conflict of interest.
The lawsuit further alleges that the Alliance for Progress did not apply its own sibling-preference policy in enrollment procedures, leading to the inappropriate placement of a student’s sibling on a waitlist despite being entitled to admission. Additionally, Harvey accused the school leadership of violating federal privacy laws by improperly disclosing student educational records.
Further controversies raised in the lawsuit include the misuse of school credit cards for personal purchases and the payment of a retired employee outside the standard payroll system, which was apparently intended to evade tax obligations. These allegations, if substantiated, could indicate severe breaches of ethics and financial accountability within the school.
Despite these claims, Alliance for Progress officials have categorically denied Harvey’s allegations, describing him as a disgruntled former employee. CEO Stacey Scott issued a statement rejecting all accusations made against the school and its governance.
As the situation unfolds, the Philadelphia School District’s charter school office has refrained from commenting, leaving the community and stakeholders awaiting further developments in this contentious matter. Harvey, seeking reinstatement and damages, asserts that his compliance concerns were ignored. His complaints about retaliation included being isolated from leadership meetings, facing disciplinary action for supposed misconduct, and ultimately resigning under pressure.
As investigations and discussions continue, the focus remains on the implications of these allegations, particularly concerning governance and ethical standards in charter schools. The outcomes of this lawsuit may set a precedent for similar cases in educational institutions across Pennsylvania and beyond.
