Audit: $1M misspent at ETAA

For The Madera Tribune

Ezequial Tafoya Alvarado Academy’s former director Nicholas Retana has been investigated for embezzling school funds for private use. It was found that $1,062,590.49 was not accounted for or misspent by Retana.

---

Massetti tells Charter School Board of possible fraud; Retana questioned

An “Extraordinary Audit” conducted by an educational management firm (FCMAT) has revealed suspected fraud at Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy, a Madera County charter school authorized by Madera Unified School District. (Every charter school in California must be sponsored by a school district).

The firm was called in by MUSD and Superintendent of Schools Cecilia Massetti in 2021 because of stories of fiscal misconduct by Dr. Nicholas Retana, the school’s former executive director.

It was found that $1,062,590.49 was not accounted for or misspent by Retana.