EAST BATON ROUGE — The founder of the Impact Charter School in Baker is being accused of diverting over $2 million in funds to an account that she used to pay for work on her house, cars, and other personal expenses, including Louis Vuitton products and a two-week spa vacation to Florida, according to a report released Monday by the Louisiana Auditor’s office.
In the report, auditors claim that Chakesha Scott diverted money to the Friends of Impact Charter School, which is a private charitable foundation run by Scott and is supposed to help fund the school. Auditors say money diverted to the FICS account was used to fund Scott’s lavish lifestyle and not for the benefit of the school.
Scott is also the CEO of Education Explosion, Inc., which is the non-profit that operates Impact Charter School in Baker.
An audit from 2023 shows the school has an annual budget of $8 million with roughly $7 million of that coming from state and federal funds.
Impact Charter School has roughly 400 students in kindergarten through 8th grade.
The full 173-page report can be viewed here.
In total, auditors claim just over $2.5 million in charter school funds were mismanaged or diverted to other accounts, which weren’t used to benefit the charter school network.
The audit was performed to determine the validity of complaints filed against Scott and members of the board of directors for Education Explosion, Inc.
In one incident, auditors allege that Scott withdrew $42,371 from the FISC account on May 27, 2023. Auditors say later that same day, Scott and her daughter Courtney Scott, purchased a pre-owned 2018 Tesla Model S for the same amount that was withdrawn.
FCIS funds were also used to make two payments to Louis Vuitton totaling $6,099. Cloud records show that Scott sent a text message to FICS board member Lakeisha Robertson after spending $3,551 on a Louis Vuitton payment, stating “I did splurge on an authentic one from the LV site bc I couldn’t pass it up … I’ll send a pic.”
Auditors found another $16,656 from FICS funds, allegedly used for Scott and her daughter on a two-week spa and wellness vacation in Florida.
Scott is also accused of using $166,520 in Education Explosion funds to lease and or purchase a 2017 Acura MDX and a 2021 Land Rover Velar. Auditors claim that Scott made those transactions without the knowledge or approval of the board and may have falsified the signature of a former board member to authorize the purchase of the Land Rover.
Auditors also accuse Scott of using funds for work on her own home. They claim Education Explosion contracted Sam Green & Sons for $133,797 to construct a modular classroom building. Auditors say that the building was largely constructed by another contractor and allege Green may have overbilled Education Explosion for work on the modular building while using $105,997 of the proceeds for work on Scott’s residence, including the installation of an in-ground swimming pool.
Records also show Education Explosion funds were used to pay a lawn care vendor $5,156 to install landscaping at Scott’s residence, among other expenses.
“Copies of this report have been delivered to the District Attorney for the 19th Judicial District of Louisiana, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, and others as required by law,” Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack wrote in the audit’s summary.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill called the allegations concerning.
“I think it certainly merits a criminal investigation and prosecution if the audit is accurate,” Murrill said. “We expect people to be good stewards of public funds, and not buy new swimming pools, Range Rovers, or $6,000 handbags.”
Murrill also said she wasn’t sure why she was listed as a defendant in the lawsuit since the Louisiana Legislative Auditor conducted the audit, and not her office .
UWK reached out to Scott at the number listed for her on the Impact Charter School’s website but has yet to hear back.
While the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education didn’t include Impact Charter School on a list of schools applying for charter renewal which was released in December, school leaders sued in order to be added to the renewal order. In January, the BESE approved the school’s request for renewal but included stipulations that there may be special conditions based on the findings of the audit.
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2 Responses
Almost unbelievable what some people think they can get away with!!
This school also has a teacher by the name of Corwin Perry that is have relationships with middle school boys. He takes the boys to get hair cuts, to the movies and picks them up before school. One of the parents came up to the school because they found messages, missed calls and pictures from the teacher.