In a response to a request from Senator Juan Oscar Morales, NOLA Education CEO John Alvendia said Governor Jenniffer González Colón made the first approach for the company to bring its Star Academy program to Puerto Rico, during a February 20, 2025 meeting of the Republican Governors Association in Washington, D.C. The company also identified Family Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes as the official who requested a visit to schools operating the program, and said it paid $12,883.50 in transportation, meals and snacks for the Puerto Rican delegation that visited Louisiana from December 7 to 10, 2025. According to NOLA’s letter, the governor expressed interest in Star Academy’s potential to help Puerto Rican students who had fallen behind academically after hurricanes, earthquakes and the pandemic, exposing them to roughly 25 to 30 career areas.
Afterward, the CEO maintained contact with PRFAA director Gabriella Boffelli, Governmental Affairs director Gabriel Bravo, former Governor’s Office deputy secretary Itza García and Josman Betancourt, an aide to former Governor’s Office secretary Francisco Domenech, who is not named in the 28-page document. Morales said he will send NOLA’s response on Monday to federal authorities and Puerto Rico entities including the Department of Justice, the Office of the Inspector General and the Comptroller’s Office.
The senator noted the company’s expenses contradict Roig Fuertes’ Senate testimony that she paid her own meals in cash, since documents show she requested agency disbursements for per diem. The $38.5 million contract was never signed.