After months of investigating, the Utah State Charter School Board has found no evidence to support allegations that Beehive Science & Technology Academy exists to advance and promote Islamic beliefs.
But the board has concerns about the public charter school's finances. Beehive is among three charter schools operating in the red. As of June, the school, which once boasted a $1 million budget, was $33,000 in debt.
"If they don't turn it around soon, I've told them we'll close them down," said charter board chairman Brian Allen.
Allen hasn't given Beehive a deadline, but stressed the board's probe is ongoing. "At this point, we're focused on finances. I haven't found any evidence of proselytizing," said Allen.
Beehive principal Frank Erdogan said the school has already taken steps to correct its financial problems, including laying off four of its 17 teachers. He also renegotiated the lease on the school's Holladay building, reducing annual payments by $100,000.
"We're going to make it. We are very hopeful," said Erdogan, who blames the school's woes on "unfair attacks" by a former teacher and parent.
Enrollment this year is down to 199, from 224 students last year.
Founded by a group of Muslim scholars, Beehive is a public charter school offering college-bound seventh through 12th graders a foundation in math and science.
But earlier this year, former parent and Beehive board member Kelly Wayment exposed unusual financial transactions and hiring practices as proof of the school's covert ties to Turkish Muslim preacher Fethullah Gülen.
Gülen is an author and educator living in Pennsylvania. He is the founder and leader of the Gülen movement, an international network of schools, some universities, businesses, banks and television networks in Turkey.
Some see Gülen as the modern, nonviolent face of Islam. But Erdogan, a Muslim from Azerbaijan, describes it as a social movement. No one has alleged Islam is being taught at Beehive.
Wayment was chiefly concerned about the school's finances. Tax filings show the school is being propped up with personal loans from former employees and Turkish scholars from around the country.
"The problem is the school isn't being run very well," said Wayment.
Two other public charter schools also have come under scrutiny for their finances: Utah Virtual Academy in Murray, and Merit College Preparatory Academy in Springville.
But those schools are relatively new, whereas Beehive has been open four years, said Cory Kanth, a financial analyst with the State Office of Education. "By that time we expect them to be fully established."
Kanth said a big part of Beehive's problem is "their leasing costs are just too high for the number of students they have."
Erdogan is hoping enrollment and the economy will rebound soon.
"Academically, we're sound. No school can compete with us," said Erdogan. "I put my life into this. I'm not going to just let it go away."
