by Jeff Melcher

So far there's little evidence, but the TEA smells smoke.

LANCASTER — Multiple requests from parents and citizens' groups to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have resulted in an audit of the Lancaster School district. TEA acting commissioner Robert Scott reported his agency will review cash flow, debt load, budget practices and the size of the reserve fund. This is only a partial list of accusations made. Among other complaints cited to the TEA, parents expressed financial concerns regarding:

• Abuse of district credit cards
• Employees drawing both personal vehicle allowances in salary along with exclusive use of district-owned automobiles
• Bond fund transfers into the general operating fund, for un-described expenses, long after the expense was incurred
• Travel expenses failing to be promptly and properly booked against budgeted accounts.
• On-going failures to reconcile PEIMS attendance and financial reports with budget and audit reports.
• An incomplete special audit, required for unacceptable schools, of Compensatory Education spending and improvement plans.
• Re-allocation of ordinary maintenance expenses into bond construction/capital projects accounts.
• Failure to account for 2006-07 bond expenses, therefore starting 2008 budgeting with inflated available fund balance.
• Highly paid specialists uncertified for positions held.
• Long-term consultant contracts awarded to personal friends of senior administration officials.
• Construction projects showing funds spent but classrooms unavailable, under-equipped, or undersized.
• Overpayment of salaries via direct-deposit, going unidentified and possibly un-recovered.
• Misallocation of Crafts and Trades Education (CATE) funding and inadequate budgeting for CATE supplies.
• Questioning the legality of board president Edwin Kirkland co-signing paychecks for spouse Ursula Kirkland.
• Single source procurement for Federal Nutrition (free hot lunch) programs, leading to over-ordering and misuse of food supplies.
• General disregard for state law regarding open records, open meetings, and financial accountability.

So far, little documentation or evidence has been provided supporting specific accusations. However, evident problems with the annual financial overview provided with the late audit and FIRST scoring have demonstrated “smoke” to the TEA’s auditors. Complaints and commentary from local teachers and parents now are directing efforts to determine if the district has an actual “fire”.

The contact for comments at the TEA is Ms Janice Hollingsworth (janice.hollingsworth (AT) tea.state.tx.us ).

The board of trustees is holding monthly board meeting next Monday, 1 October, at 7 p.m. The agenda has not yet been posted.