State auditors found the use of unapproved credit cards, a lack of financial records and other accounting problems at Collins Middle School in Oak Hill, according to a draft report from state Auditor Glen Gainer's office.
State auditors found the use of unapproved credit cards, a lack of financial records and other accounting problems at Collins Middle School in Oak Hill, according to a draft report from state Auditor Glen Gainer's office.
The school's principal, David Perry, said he had not been allowed to respond to the report, which he said lacks substance and is politically motivated. Perry is a Democratic member of the House of Delegates.
"It's an artificial report, premature, without having any response [from him] and not having looked at the complete forms and documents," Perry said. "Could there be some errors? Yes."
Fayette County school board members will discuss the audit today at 1 p.m. at the central office in Fayetteville.
"I'm very concerned about this," said Fayette school board President Peggy Farmer, whose term expires Monday. "I do not want to leave the school system with some questionable reports."
The auditors considered the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2007. Among other issues, they questioned hotel fees that Perry charged on a bank-issued credit card and turned in to the school for reimbursement.
"Adequate supporting documentation was not available either for the hotel charges or to indicate that board procedures were followed," auditors wrote in the draft report. They did not mention Perry by name.
Perry has that and other documents, he said, and he turned them over to state auditors Monday. An ongoing spat with officials in Gainer's office and some delays at school kept him from turning the information over earlier, he said.
Farmer said she and another school board member also met Monday with staff from Gainer's office, who gave them a copy of the draft report. She said board members might vote today to conduct a follow-up investigation.
Auditors also noted payments to Lowe's and Wal-Mart credit cards. The cards were not approved by the school board. They also questioned travel expenses for the school's assistant principal that were charged to a bank-issued credit card held in the "principal's name."
Perry said he attended school-related conferences that were approved by the county board. His assistant principal had also attended conferences and incurred travel and lodging expenses.
Perry said credit card practices that auditors questioned are common procedure in Fayette County. Past superintendents have approved them, he said.
"You can reimburse yourself for mileage for school business," he said. "That's been a standing practice for 30 years. In my 30 years nobody has ever said you can't do that."
State auditors found the use of unapproved credit cards, a lack of financial records and other accounting problems at Collins Middle School in Oak Hill, according to a draft report from state Auditor Glen Gainer's office.
The school's principal, David Perry, said he had not been allowed to respond to the report, which he said lacks substance and is politically motivated. Perry is a Democratic member of the House of Delegates.
"It's an artificial report, premature, without having any response [from him] and not having looked at the complete forms and documents," Perry said. "Could there be some errors? Yes."
Fayette County school board members will discuss the audit today at 1 p.m. at the central office in Fayetteville.
"I'm very concerned about this," said Fayette school board President Peggy Farmer, whose term expires Monday. "I do not want to leave the school system with some questionable reports."
The auditors considered the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2007. Among other issues, they questioned hotel fees that Perry charged on a bank-issued credit card and turned in to the school for reimbursement.
"Adequate supporting documentation was not available either for the hotel charges or to indicate that board procedures were followed," auditors wrote in the draft report. They did not mention Perry by name.
Perry has that and other documents, he said, and he turned them over to state auditors Monday. An ongoing spat with officials in Gainer's office and some delays at school kept him from turning the information over earlier, he said.
Farmer said she and another school board member also met Monday with staff from Gainer's office, who gave them a copy of the draft report. She said board members might vote today to conduct a follow-up investigation.
Auditors also noted payments to Lowe's and Wal-Mart credit cards. The cards were not approved by the school board. They also questioned travel expenses for the school's assistant principal that were charged to a bank-issued credit card held in the "principal's name."
Perry said he attended school-related conferences that were approved by the county board. His assistant principal had also attended conferences and incurred travel and lodging expenses.
Perry said credit card practices that auditors questioned are common procedure in Fayette County. Past superintendents have approved them, he said.
"You can reimburse yourself for mileage for school business," he said. "That's been a standing practice for 30 years. In my 30 years nobody has ever said you can't do that."
Auditors said that while a year-end financial report was available, a detailed monthly report with transactions was not.
Perry said there have been delays in reporting information to state auditors. He admitted that part of the delay involves a disagreement he had with state auditors over their investigation. Each party has agitated one other, he said. Perry said an auditor first came to Collins in January.
"Absolutely I think it's politically motivated," Perry said of the investigation. "I think there are some different entities that are behind this at the local level and at the state level." He did not elaborate.
Perry said there are still some computer files he has not yet turned over because he needs technical help to do so.
"There's no stolen hard drive, there's no missing computer," said Perry. He is upset at what he believes is an implication of wrongdoing in the draft report.
A close assistant has been out of work for family reasons, and the school's preparation for the standardized WESTEST also delayed things in recent weeks, he said. Fayette schools Superintendent Chris Perkins is aware of the delays, Perry said.
Perkins had asked Perry to turn the documents over at his earliest convenience, Perry said.
Perry plans to attend today's board meeting in Fayetteville, which he also believes is premature.
"I'm very upset about this," Farmer said. "I want it corrected and I want it corrected now. ... I don't want to leave anything lingering around."
Deputy State Auditor Stuart Stickel confirmed that Collins Middle School was included in a draft report that audited its 2007 fiscal year. He said he could not discuss details, as the report has not been finalized. He expects it to be completed within a week.
Perry said he has 34 years of impeccable service as an educator. He decided to retire this year, which has nothing to do with the draft report, he said.
Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 348-1254.
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