Balere Language Academy, Miami Charter School, Accused Of Throwing Raunchy Parties At Night

The highly rated Balere Language Academy in Miami is the daytime home of students from kindergarten through 8th grade, but the school is now responding to complaints that the same Miami-Dade charter school is hosting parties after hours.

"Raunchy, booze-soaked bashes into the wee hours," to be more specific, the Miami Herald reports.

Advertisements for the parties print the school's physical address and boast both sexy and alcoholic images.

The school's principal denies knowledge of after-hour adult parties. Belare's attorney Marlon Hill made the same denial to the Associated Press/NBC Miami, noting that the address on the ads were likely printed incorrectly.

"Parents should not worry that anything inappropriately is happening at the school," Hill told AP/NBC. Still, he says officials will investigate the allegations

Still, parents have complained about finding empty beer bottles on campus as well as smelling lingering smoke. Facebook photos have also surfaced of partyers with alcohol -- with the captions noting the school's location.

When someone Tweeted, "sounds like fun!! Where's it gonna be?? RT @5MMusicGroup dem boyz got da big reggae party dis weekend @snakeyeyepromo & @HyghLyfeEnt," Miami entertainment company Hygh Lyfe Entertainment responded, "@MariaLolaMonroy 10875 Quail Roost Dr Miami, FL 33157," Balere Language Academy's address. 5MMusicGroup responded to the same inquiry with the same address.

The Herald reports that still, there's little the school district can do. Although charter schools are publicly funded, they are privately or independently run and can only close if they are struggling financially or are failing in performance, determined by the state Department of Education.

Comments

[Stephen B Kidde]

03:54 PM on 09/04/2011

This is what happens when funding is cut. The only good thing about the events reported in the story are that they are observable. The frightening thing is the consideration of how schools are going to raise funds if they are privatized.

They used to say that capitalism is better than communism because there is incentive. The incentive however is profit. When profit is the driving motivation, regulation is subordinated to what works. Gambling, partying, solicitation and pandering to corporate interests are some of the potential consequences. Raising prices beyond affordability however is the most likely consequence.

Elitism will not only destroy the quality of education, it will destroy civility and justice.

[A Dub]

12:11 PM on 09/04/2011

Isn't privatization fun?

[whatisbodybyvi]

11:50 PM on 09/03/2011

Sounds like you typical Catholic church... Sounds funny to hear the former cocaine cowboy say the neighborhood is getting bad... Oh really?

[MiamiMama]

05:23 PM on 09/03/2011

What goes on in many charter schools is kept from the eye of the public.

[glomtt]

04:56 PM on 09/03/2011

The Herald reports that still, there's little the school district can do. Although charter schools are publicly funded, they are privately or independently run and can only close if they are struggling financially or are failing in performance, determined by the state Department of Education.

They are receiving tax payer money, but the company running the school has all the say so. I would be hopping mad about this. If they are receiving tax dollars, they should be ruled by the Dept of Education. This is a sorry deal for taxpayers and the students. It's a for-profit school via taxpayer money.

[wrascil]

07:40 PM on 09/03/2011

And they will not give US school vouchers for OUR tax money to send out children to private school...
public education has always been about the money...
Teachers that don't care and NO stupid child left behind has proven that.

[Candi Marti]

11:45 PM on 09/03/2011

Miami news also reported that there was a connection between the student that had the party, and the principal of the school--so for some reason, I don't think we've heard the last of this story...if I were a parent at that school, I'd be petitioning to oust the principal!

[tereisco]

07:26 PM on 09/08/2011

I have been reading the articles that the miami herald has been publishing about these accusations and they never said that there was a connection between a student and the party...

[ignacio sanabria]

03:55 PM on 09/03/2011

Wondering how Kindergarteners and 8th graders would party at night.

[gifu]

03:40 PM on 09/03/2011

No thongs left behind......I mean child.

[Grandma Koolfinger]

03:06 PM on 09/03/2011

"... finding empty beer bottles on campus as well as smelling lingering smoke..." This is a travesty, a crisis, an epidemic. I cannot believe that callousness of these people. Don't they realize that that smoke will cause cancer in the youngins and that the bottles could break and slice an artery ... just like that.

[bg66astoria]

03:00 PM on 09/03/2011

Thanks Florida for another story idea for Carl Hiassen!

I'm sure he has more than enough already, but one more will, I hope, give him reason for a new book in his crime series.

[elizabethcity]

03:00 PM on 09/03/2011

One word, GHETTO!

[JohnDrake6]

03:38 PM on 09/03/2011

Another word: RACIST.

[cathy66]

04:07 PM on 09/03/2011

Boo hoo John! Sometimes the truth hurts.

[icarus85]

04:08 PM on 09/03/2011

Yet another word: Yodel

[cathy66]

04:06 PM on 09/03/2011

Those were my exact thoughts.

[Darrel Wyatt]

02:59 PM on 09/03/2011

Not to mention, arresting anyone serving alcohol to minors.

[Darrel Wyatt]

02:57 PM on 09/03/2011

Plus, from now on cops should watch the place like a hawk. Meaning arresting any minors that show up to this party.

[cincypix]

02:56 PM on 09/03/2011

Well, schools of the future need to be where the whole community can gather lmf ao!

Follow the conversation here

http://nytschoolsfortomorrow.com/

[Darrel Wyatt]

02:52 PM on 09/03/2011

Ok, heres the plan:

Since the school is publicly funded, cut off all funding to the school. At least until the private owners sign an avidavit that the school will be closed between certain hours. If they refuse, then slap them with fines until they do.

Because I for one, certainly dont want my school education tax funds supporting this type of behavior. This is absolutely UNacceptable!

[mo524]

03:26 PM on 09/03/2011

You cant do that sadly it is funded by your founds but still a private school so unless the grades fall nothing can be done.

[Darrel Wyatt]

04:25 PM on 09/03/2011

Theres got to be something that can be done. Its just is not right for children to get away with this.

[LXIX WITHU]

02:47 PM on 09/03/2011

Facebook photos have also surfaced of partyers with alcohol -- with the captions noting the school's location.

I would think that The Huffington Post could afford copy editors who are able to spell partiers.