Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The future of hundreds of private school students in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is uncertain after it was discovered the school's founder was millions of dollars in debt while accused of financial misconduct.
Croft School has over 500 students at locations in Providence, Jamaica Plain, and the South End.
The owner of the school is Scott Given, who also served as its Executive Director.
A parent of one of the students, along with a school investor, are suing Given, alleging that he ran the school like a Ponzi scheme.
The Croft School Board said Given overspent the budget and hid $13 million borrowed from Croft families, investors, friends, and business acquaintances.
He allegedly used that money to pay back older school debts.
The board also said Given fabricated bank documents and kept two sets of books for years.
After the alleged mismanagement was discovered, Given was suspended without pay.
Jennie McDonald Brown, a parent of one of the school's 4th graders, said she hopes the school can remain open for a little while. "We've got all of our fingers and toes crossed that by the end of this week we'll be able to say we can at the very least stay open until June," she said.
Since the news broke, parents have been raising funds to try to keep the school open for as long as possible. "The last numbers that I heard were within a couple hundred thousand dollars," she said.
According to the school board, it needs $5 million to keep the schools open through the end of the year.
Boston Public Schools said if Croft does close, it will take its students who live within the Boston school district.
WBZ NewsRadio has reached out to Given's attorney for comment.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@jamesrojas.bsky.social) reports.