NEWARK, Ohio — A Columbus-based charter school has ended its relationship with a Newark nonprofit agency after complaints that the local program failed to provide adequate educational services.

Officials with the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow issued a statement yesterday saying it is not renewing its contract with Newark Arts and Music Too, an agency operated by Rita Jackson. The charter school used a classroom at Jackson’s Castle on the Canal building to provide online education for students. The classroom had 42 charterschool computers, which will be removed. Some students also participated in the program from home.

Charter school spokesman Nick Wilson said yesterday that computers and Internet access will be provided at the homes of students who used the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow program at Jackson’s facility.

Newark School Superintendent Keith Richards criticized the operation earlier this week in a letter to the Lucas County Educational Service Center, which sponsors the Columbus charter school.

"Based on parental complaints, we believe the (charter school) program is failing to meet even minimum standards of operation, and, as a result, may be committing fraud by taking state funds for educational services it is not providing to schools," Richards said in the letter.

Richards complained that the charter school received $423,000 in state funds this year for students who left Newark schools. Yesterday, he applauded the charter schools actions, but said he still has concerns about the overall Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow program.

In a statement yesterday, charter school Superintendent Jeff Forster said Richards’ "concerns are unfounded and his letter was filled with inaccuracies, exaggerations and outright falsehoods."

In Newark, the charter school and Jackson had a partnership that began in October 2004. The contract expired Feb. 28 and won’t be renewed, Forster said.

On Wednesday, Newark fire investigators inspected the building and found about 40 violations, mostly involving improper electrical wiring. Inspectors ordered the class room to close.

Those violations played a role in not renewing the contract, Forster said.

Jackson also improperly used the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow name on her building, he said.

"This is not an ECOT school despite statements of the Newark superintendent," Forster said in his statement. "The ECOT logo sign was not authorized by ECOT officials and may have caused confusion in the community."

Jackson has said she only provided space for the charter school through an agreement and that she would take care of the fire-code violations. The building also houses the local NAACP chapter, a recording studio and a black history museum.

tsheehan@dispatch.com