PHILADELPHIA, PA – A review of public records has revealed that the CEO of Laboratory Charter School of Communication, Dr. Andrea Coleman-Hill, signed a multi-million dollar lease with a company connected to the school’s founder, Dr. June Brown, who was previously convicted of embezzling $6.5 million from the same school. The finding comes as the school’s own independent audit reported a “material weakness” in its financial controls, indicating its financial reporting may be unreliable.
According to the lease agreement, Dr. Coleman-Hill signed a five-year contract in July 2023 with 6402-10 Old York Road LLC. The document lists the landlord's address as “c/o Dr. June Brown,” directly linking the company to the convicted former founder. Federal court records show Dr. Brown was convicted in 2012 on felony charges for defrauding Laboratory Charter School.
The lease obligated the school to pay $45,000 per month in base rent, plus additional costs, to Dr. Brown’s LLC. For two years, the school made these payments while simultaneously operating from and paying for its existing middle school location at 3300 Henry Avenue, creating a duplicative facility cost that consumed over a million dollars in public funding.
“The decision to enter into a major financial agreement with a felon who previously victimized this school, while simultaneously failing to maintain basic financial controls, represents a catastrophic failure of leadership and fiscal oversight,” stated the review. “These facts raise serious questions about the stewardship of public funds.”
The findings have been presented to the School District of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Department of Education with a recommendation for an immediate forensic audit and a full review of the school’s governance.
Key Facts from Public Records:
· Document: Lease Agreement for 6402 Old York Road.
· Parties: Tenant - Laboratory Charter School; Landlord - 6402-10 Old York Road LLC ("c/o Dr. June Brown").
· Signatory: Dr. Andrea Coleman-Hill, CEO/Superintendent.
· Public Record: U.S. v. June Brown (2:12-cr-00539) - Federal conviction for fraud against the school.
· FY2023 Audit: Identified a “material weakness in internal control over financial reporting.”
