Denver Public Schools is investigating a range of allegations against a Montbello charter school, including an assistant principal arrested 10 times since 2001.

Carolyn Jones, founder and principal of Challenges, Choices and Images Charter School, said she placed Assistant Principal William H. Brown on leave and is re-evaluating employee screening after a CBS4 investigation.

"I don't know what the answer is, but I think we need a much better way of evaluating," Jones said after the investigation revealed numerous employees had criminal histories including thefts, forgery and even a registered sex offender.

The Rocky Mountain News has learned that DPS, tipped off by a former employee, is investigating other claims at the school, informally known as CCI:

Public tax dollars intended for the charter school have been loaned by school leaders to fund a private day-care program.

Paychecks to teachers bounced in April, and some of the school's suppliers have been calling DPS to complain about lack of payment.

Grades were changed to improve students' chances of winning scholarships for college.

Jones could not be reached for comment Monday about those claims. In a letter sent Thursday to DPS leaders, she denies "co- mingling" public and private dollars.

'Never seen this before'

CBS4 found seven of Brown's arrests were for drug paraphernalia.

"I have never seen this before," Jones said when shown the arrest records.

Denver Police arrested Brown, 55, in 2005 in an alley at 22nd and Arapahoe streets.

According to police, Brown was involved in a drug purchase and "admitted that he was buying crack and furthermore admitted that he had a crack pipe in his pants pocket."

Records indicate that Brown pleaded no contest to possession of drug paraphernalia.

However, in an interview, Brown denied having a crack pipe, denied being involved in a drug deal and said the police report is wrong.

Denver police again arrested Brown six months ago on a similar charge. Officers said they saw Brown at 5:25 a.m. Nov. 4 on the 500 block of East Colfax Avenue.

"He reached into his right front pocket and pulled out a crack pipe and a small baggie containing a small amount of suspected powder cocaine in an attempt to hide the items," wrote officer Andre Pino.

No formal charges were filed and the case ultimately was dropped. Brown said the police report is wrong, that he did not have a crack pipe or cocaine.

Police also arrested Brown in 2001 for possession of drug paraphernalia, a charge resulting in a deferred judgment.

Brown said he can't recall seven times he was arrested in the past seven years and noted that most of the cases were dismissed anyway.

Checks lacking

Charter schools, which are publicly funded but run by independent boards, have autonomy over hiring.

DPS' contract with CCI, as with its other charters, says the school is to run staff background checks.

But the CBS4 investigation found gaps in the system:

Charles A. Hopkins was hired in 2006 to work as a night custodian despite a six-page rap sheet that included arrests for felony burglary, felony trespass, dangerous drugs and armed motor vehicle theft.

Jones said he was hired because his mother worked for CCI. He was fired because he "went back to doing drugs," she said.

Charles Johnson, a registered sex offender, was hired as a day laborer when CCI needed to move a large amount of furniture and books.

Jones said Johnson did not have contact with students but, in retrospect, DPS tax dollars should never have gone to pay a sex offender.

Dion Davis, another mover, spent time in prison for felony larceny and drugs.

"I would not do it again," Jones said of the hiring of Johnson and Davis. "That's certainly my fault; I take full responsibility."

CCI employs other staff members with arrest sheets. CBS4 found staff convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, soliciting for prostitution, assault and theft.

But Jones said having those kinds of backgrounds can help staff members relate to students.

"We've got people who have had experiences like the kids," she said, "so that they can say to the kids, 'That choice you're going to make is not a good choice. I've been there and walked those shoes.'"

Financial questions

CCI, a DPS charter school since 2000, moved last fall to a new location in Montbello. That's also when school leaders decided to open an independent child care center.

But the center had no funding. So members of the CCI charter school governing board decided to loan the center "an amount not to exceed $500,000," according to board minutes dated June 29, 2007.

Jones, in her letter to school board members dated May 8, notes there are questions about the loaning of money from the charter school to the center.

"The loans are awaiting repayment as soon as a bank loan in process is secured," she wrote.

Jones said the loan is not "co-mingling" of public and private dollars, noting, "As to the co-mingling of funds, the school has never done that."

She adds, "We have, however, made loans to the Montessori day care center as an attempt to get them open in a timely manner for state and city health inspections."

DPS spokesman Alex Sanchez declined to comment on any aspect of the investigation. Denver school board members voted in February to put the charter on a year's probation, largely for academic reasons.

DPS is currently negotiating the terms of that one-year contract.

"We would like to conclude the investigation before we comment on any recommendations the district will make to the board of education," Sanchez said, adding, "We are moving as fast as we can."

Contact Nancy Mitchell at mitchelln@rockymountainnews.com

Contact Brian Maass at bmaass@cbs.com

Challenges, Choices and Images charter school

* Address: 11200 E. 45th Ave., Montbello neighborhood

* Enrollment: K-12

* Curriculum: CCI is an African-centered school. According to the school's Web site, students are expected to learn the ancient African guiding principles for living a moral life and to utilize them in their daily interactions.

* Opened: 1999 by Principal Carolyn Jones

* Of note: Enrolled New Orleans evacuees after Hurricane Katrina; put on one-year academic probation by Denver Public Schools board for poor performance in February.

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