Mailer targets Pa. public school, promotes charter school

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (WPVI) -- An alarming letter is causing controversy as it circulates among parents in Northampton County.

It is questioning the safety of Liberty High School in the Bethlehem, referencing the arrest of a student for heroin and cocaine possession last year.

Then it reads, "Why worry about this type of student at school? Come visit Arts Academy Charter School."

Bethlehem Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy says it's nothing short of appalling.

"Liberty High School students, families, parents, grandparents who've gone to Liberty High School deserve better than a political hit piece that came through the mail," Roy said.

But officials from the charter school strongly deny they had anything to do with it.

In a Facebook post, Innovative Arts Academy attorney Dan Fennick wrote, in part, "We have the enrollment we planned on and have no need to waste money on mailers. We regret that someone saw fit to criticize another school in a mailer using our name."

So, that begs the questions 'Who did it?' and 'Why?'

State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is committed to finding those answers.

He also released a statement reading, in part," Unfortunately, we have become accustomed to dirtball mailers and tactics like this in political campaigns. But when it spills over into our education system and one public school appears to have attacked another it becomes downright deplorable."

DePasquale said he is referring the matter to the U.S Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pa. Attorney General's office.

This is the second allegedly unauthorized advertisement. The first was a full page newspaper ad.