(BOSTON – 04/19/2023) Last week, five legislators representing Worcester sent a letter expressing support for the Worcester School Committee’s request to investigate ties between Old Sturbridge Village and the Worcester Cultural Academy Charter Public School. The letter was signed by Senators Michael Moore, Robyn Kennedy, and Anne Gobi, as well as Representatives Mary Keefe and David LeBoeuf.

The letter, addressed to State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Inspector General Jeffery Shapiro, and Executive Director Davis Wilson, requests that officials “examine the financial relationship, selection of the educational management organization, and composition of the Board of Trustees between Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) and the Worcester Cultural Academy Charter Public School (WCA).”

According to a proposal submitted by the WCA, Old Sturbridge Village leased a property in Worcester to be used for the WCA with the intention of collecting maintenance fee equal to 7% of all per-pupil tuition payments. This agreement, the Worcester School Committee says, will result in $1.7 million being paid to Old Sturbridge Village over the first five years of the charter school’s operation.

“Bay Staters expect a high level of transparency and strong ethical standards when it comes to institutions funded by taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Where there are concerns of conflict of interest or ethical malpractice, I have always strongly supported investigations to shine a light on wrongdoing or to debunk false claims. The Worcester School Committee’s request for an investigation into ties between the Old Sturbridge Village and the Worcester Cultural Academy Charter Public School should be honored.”

"There must be transparency and accountability with our public funding for education," said Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester). "As was evident during the recent public hearing, serious questions remain about the relationship between the proposed Worcester Cultural Academy Charter Public School and Old Sturbridge Village. When we are talking about pulling public funding from our public schools, we have an obligation to have these concerns answered. I join my colleagues in the legislature in supporting the Worcester School Committee in calling on the State Auditor, Attorney General, and Inspector General to further examine the relationship between these 2 entities.”

"The Worcester Cultural Academy and Old Sturbridge Village owe community members answers. Public funding must be overseen with the utmost respect for the taxpayers” said Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer). “I strongly affirm the Worcester School Committee's call for an investigation. I look forward to the auditor’s report.”

The Worcester School Committee unanimously passed a request for investigation in late February 2023. “Because Massachusetts charter schools are subject to the conflict of interest law,” the letter sent by legislators closes, “we feel it is important to support the Worcester School Committee in its request for clarity on the relationship between Old Sturbridge Village and the Worcester Academy Charter Public School. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter.”

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