Thread by @inminivanhell

🧵What In The Corrupt Is Happening At Orange County Classical Academy?

OCCA is an affiliated Hillsdale College charter school in Orange, CA. Co-founded by Dr Jeff Barke (America’s Frontline Doctor) & Mark Bucher (co-founder of California Policy Center, a far-right think tank)
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OCCA co-founder Mark Bucher has a long history with Orange Unified School District, starting in the 90’s when he co-directed the anti-union Educational Alliance. Their controversial supported trustees (against teacher raises & banned gay student clubs) were recalled in 2001.

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Bucher’s involvement with funding OUSD school board candidates is ongoing including his ties with Orange County Charter Advocates for Greater Public Schools PAC.

In 2019, two OUSD trustees had 96% (Ortega) and 97% (Lebsack) total campaign contributions came from that one PAC.
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That same year (2019), Mark Bucher filed a petition to open Orange County Classical Academy charter school in Orange USD. Some members of the public asked Lebsack & Ortega to recuse themselves from vote. They didn’t.

Mark Bucher & Jeff Barke had themselves a charter school.
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A school site was secured and a non-profit named “Ostraka” leased the property from owner. May 2020, Ostraka became “landlords” and subleased the property to OCCA for $45,000/mth.

Who signed the lease on behalf of Ostraka?

Mark Bucher, using Cal Policy Center’s address.
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Yes, that’s right. Mark Bucher was behind the non-profit Ostraka, who secured a site location for OCCA (the school he petitioned) and then rented it back to them.

So Bucher was OCCA’s co-founder, their landlord, and even a lender (he gave OCCA a cash flow loan in Sept 2020).
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Now, let’s talk about lawsuits:

Dec 2021, a lawsuit was filed between Service First (contractor) & Ostraka (landlord). The lawsuit claimed Ostraka owed Service First $350,000 in unpaid expenses associated with the renovation of the Orange County Classical Academy building.

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Ostraka later stated (a separate lawsuit, but we’ll get to that) “Prior to the Lease being entered into, [Ostraka], at OCCA’s direction, hired a general contractor, SERVICE FIRST, under a written contract, to renovate the Property.”

This is important, let me explain why-

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The lease between Ostraka and OCCA was May 12, 2020.

So, per Ostraka in court documents, before May 12, 2020 the non-profit Ostraka (Mark Bucher- authorized representative) hired Service First (for-profit corporation).

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Are you still hanging in? Because, here comes the twist:

Per the lawsuits, Orange County Classical Academy (co-founded by Mark Bucher), directed Ostraka (whom Bucher was an authorized representative of), to hire Service First (a construction company owned by Mark Bucher).

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So yes, the Service First construction company that was hired to renovate the Orange County Classical Academy school site is owned by Mark Bucher.

Even the Service First invoice address is the same address used in the original corporate documents for Ostraka.

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Before moving on, I want to point out one last thing with the Dec 2021 lawsuit. Service First used Tyler & Bursch, LLP as their lawyer.

Does that firm ring any bells? In 2020, they represented Orange County Board of Education (OCBE) in a lawsuit against Governor Newsom.
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In Feb 2022, OCCA petitioned OCBE for a countywide charter. It passed, making OCBE their authorizer & granting them the ability to open across OC without petitioning districts.

The (then) Pres of OCBE was Mari Barke, wife to Jeff Barke.

*Great article with details attached
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After OCBE gave OCCA countywide approval(Feb 2022), Mark Bucher gave 3 OCBE trustees (Tim Shaw, Lisa Sparks & Mari Barke) generous donations. Some money came from him personally, some laundered through California Action & others loans. At least $180k was given AFTER approval.
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April 2022, Service First dismissed their lawsuit against Ostraka. In court docs, Ostraka insists Service First & OCCA sought to pass costs of unauthorized work to Ostraka by HIDING and INFLATING COSTS.

Ostraka then filed a lawsuit against OCCA on August 31, 2022.
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On Sept 15, 2022, Orange County Classical Academy called for a special board meeting to allow for a closed session to discuss the lawsuit filed against them by Ostraka.

On Sep 22, 2022, corporation documents for OCCA were filed, removing Jeff Barke as OCCA’s CEO.

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Before I wrap up Part 1 (yup, more to come soon), I think it’s important to mention OCCA’s Foundation. The non-profit claims to have given OCCA $500,000 & currently fundraising to raise million more for construction.

Guess who’s the Director of the Foundation?

Mark Bucher

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Part 2 -Sneak Peek

Aug 2022, OCCA was restricted from attending in-person due to missing fire hydrants. Attached are possibly linked emails between:
•Mark Bucher (Service First)
•Will Swaim (Cal Policy Center/Ostraka)
•Clare Venegas (Ostraka/Lincoln Club/Curt Pringle & Assoc)

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