In the past seven years, Nicholas Trombetta has climbed from small-town Beaver County school administrator to the head of a sprawling educational network fueled by millions of taxpayer dollars…. Although it is not clear exactly what (Pennsylvania) state Attorney General Tom Corbett Jr. is investigating, a statewide grand jury whose term recently ended heard testimony over several months about alleged financial shenanigans within Dr. Trombetta's network…. Subpoenaed witnesses have provided… information they say points to possible violations of a range of laws concerning charter schools, campaign finance, corporate governance and nonprofit organizations….

Dr. Trombetta is chief executive officer of the charter school, a 21st-century economic engine for tiny Midland. which foundered after Crucible Steel shut down in the 1980s…. The school, along with the performing arts center, the affiliated Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, and the Beaver-based National Network of Digital Schools, a management group of which Dr. Trombetta is president, have created nearly 800 jobs.

Dr. Trombetta is also superintendent of the Midland School District, which approved the charter for the cyber school. He intends to step down July 1 as superintendent. Dr. Trombetta said this year he is earning $149,000 from the cyber charter school and $50,000 from Midland…. The cyber school pays 12 percent of its revenue -- an expected $5 million to $6 million this year -- to NNDS to handle non-instructional needs, from legal affairs to purchasing to billing. That represents the vast bulk of NNDS's revenue. Dr. Trombetta said the 12 percent is at the low end of the fair market range for the type of services NNDS provides.

Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 18.