November 7, 2008

Report on Cleburne ISD
by Micki Nellis

First, the good news, if you can call it that.

Today, November 7, is the last day that taxpayers are paying Dr. Sharron Miles. She has not worked at CISD since the end of June. Taxpayers have paid her more than $40,000 since she "resigned."

Now for the bad news.

Item 1

Neither Cleburne ISD nor the School Board plans to try to recover the $362,000 of misspent funds from those who misspent them. Furthermore, they have no plans to pursue a criminal investigation.

Superintendent Dr. Ronny Beard sent the TEA report to District Attorney Dale Hanna with a cover letter Dr. Beard said "In accordance with the duties of the school superintendent to self-report any suspected transgression oflaw or rule, I am sending you a copy of the final investigative report. Though preliminary analysis indicates that no illegal transfer, appropriation, or expenditure of property or funds of the school district, service center or shared services arrangements are apparent, I will be happy to assist you in any way I can if you determine that further investigation is warranted."

Our Comment:

There are several problems here. First, it is not the  TEA's job to find criminal activity. It is the DA's job or if he doesn't feel comfortable doing it, he can send it up to the FBI. Second, what happened to the $50,000 for which there are no receipts? Third, what happened to all the additional documentation that was collected  to support criminal investigation that we were told would be filed?

If there was no wrongdoing, why did CISD have to pay back $362,000?

District Attorney Dale Hanna indicated to Harold Gentry that he did not plan to conduct an investigation.

Item 2

Superintendent Beard will ask the School Board Monday night at 6 p.m. to pay administrators stipends for being involved in the Community and Civic Organization membership. CISD (read taxpayers) have spent thousands of dollars for administrators' civic club and meal expenses. Lion's Club dues are $400 per year which includes meals. Rotary Club dues are about $1,000 per year. Members pay for meals whether or not they attend.

Our Comments:

CISD is not supposed to be a political entity. It's purpose is to educate students. Why should taxpayers pay already highly-paid administrators an additional stipend plus civic club dues? Politics is not their job. Also, who will monitor whether they actually attend or not?

Also on the agenda is District Travel Policy. At present, there is no District Travel Policy. Therefore CISD is bound by state guidelines of $85 per night for in-state lodging plus $36 a day for meals. In the past, taxpayers have paid for administrators to stay in more than $300 per night hotels, plus lavish meals. Remember the $908 dinner at Ruth Chris Steak House in San Antonio for School Board members and their spouses?

Further Comments:

It's not OK to treat the taxpayers like ATM machines. Suck in your gut like everyone else has to. In this terrible economy, taxpayers don't want to foot the bill for lavish hotels and meals. Administrators and Board Members might even consider staying home or doing training online.

Item 4

We have received in response to an Open Records Request the complete Salary Report for CISD as of November 5, 2008.  It's posted at http://www.CleburnePolitics.com

The School Board Meeting is Monday, November 10 at 6 p.m.