Rick Scott Tries to Enrich Donor for School Bid With Taxpayer Funds

The superintendent of Hillsborough County schools, MaryEllen Elia, reached out to MacDill officials to address their concerns regarding education for children living on the base. Elia offered to convert a local school into a K-8 school, and offered to run a charter school for MacDill if that was the route they wished to pursue.

Her calls were ignored.

The superintendent had a plan for the children, but Rick Scott had a better plan to enrich his friend and campaign donor:

Jonathan Hage sat on Gov. Rick Scott's education transition team. He and his company, Charter Schools USA, have given more than $100,000 to Scott's Let's Get To Work fund and the state Republican Party.

Now it appears it was Scott — or someone very close to him — who suggested Charter Schools USA run a school at MacDill Air Force Base.

Meeting minutes obtained by the Hillsborough County School District, which opposes the school, describe the origin of a plan that is at the heart of a battle before the Florida Board of Education. See more