Cleburne ISD Texas Education Agency Investigation Update Dec 12, 2007

Cleburne ISD Texas Education Agency Investigation Update
Print this page December 12, 2007 by Harold Gentry CISD / TEA Investigation Update *Remember the Fat Lady Hasn’t Sung Yet* Again I must dispel the spin put forth in October by CISD administration giving the false impression that a letter received from TEA “proved that the district was not guilty of any wrong-doing.” This statement also gave the impression that the TEA investigation for the most part was now over. The fact is that CISD did receive a letter but it had nothing to do with the investigation of federal funds spending. It addressed only some changes in purchasing policies which TEA had suggested and CISD implemented which is just what we expected to be done. I had a conversation this past week with federal auditor Ramon’ Medina, whose team conducted the onsite investigation of CISD records. This was what I was told: The report is still on his desk being edited so that a few areas that may be unclear are more understandable. This report is not stalled due to politics or any other reason anyone might dream up. He assured me this is not going to get swept under the carpet and noted that several legislators and news media have been inquiring about the report. To put this all in a nutshell, we have a preliminary report due and then a final report from the TEA before any final verdict will be handed down. Until the final report is issued by TEA, any spin put forth by anyone from the public or the district proclaiming guilt or innocence is solely speculation and personal opinion but not fact. Remember the Fat Lady hasn’t sung yet. The misuse of federal Title 1 funds and grants can have some very serious repercussions. The state watchdog for all 1034 school districts in Texas is the Texas Education Agency. Our nation’s watchdog is the Department of Education, which will also receive a copy of the final report. Depending on the outcome other federal agencies may receive the final report as well. While we wait for the TEA report, there is an area that we local citizens need to concern ourselves with, and that is how CISD spends local funds. The TEA has no control over how schools spend monies collected from local taxes. That control is up to the school board and public pressure. The continual waste of local taxes in ways that do not benefit the children’s education will always be the citizen’s responsibility. The complete CISD checkbook, vendor payment file, trial balance and chart of accounts are posted at http://www.CleburnePolitics.com along with explanations of how to tell if an account is local tax dollars or federal or state. I invite you to join me in inspecting the school’s spending by downloading the financial files and sharing your findings with me. Harold Gentry

Cleburne ISD Texas Education Agency Investigation Update

December 12, 2007
by Harold Gentry

CISD / TEA Investigation Update

Remember the Fat Lady Hasn’t Sung Yet

Again I must dispel the spin put forth in October by CISD administration giving the false impression that a letter received from TEA “proved that the district was not guilty of any wrong-doing.” This statement also gave the impression that the TEA investigation for the most part was now over.

The fact is that CISD did receive a letter but it had nothing to do with the investigation of federal funds spending. It addressed only some changes in purchasing policies which TEA had suggested and CISD implemented which is just what we expected to be done.

I had a conversation this past week with federal auditor Ramon’ Medina, whose team conducted the onsite investigation of CISD records. This was what I was told: The report is still on his desk being edited so that a few areas that may be unclear are more understandable. This report is not stalled due to politics or any other reason anyone might dream up. He assured me this is not going to get swept under the carpet and noted that several legislators and news media have been inquiring about the report.

To put this all in a nutshell, we have a preliminary report due and then a final report from the TEA before any final verdict will be handed down. Until the final report is issued by TEA, any spin put forth by anyone from the public or the district proclaiming guilt or innocence is solely speculation and personal opinion but not fact. Remember the Fat Lady hasn’t sung yet. The misuse of federal Title 1 funds and grants can have some very serious repercussions.

The state watchdog for all 1034 school districts in Texas is the Texas Education Agency. Our nation’s watchdog is the Department of Education, which will also receive a copy of the final report. Depending on the outcome other federal agencies may receive the final report as well.

While we wait for the TEA report, there is an area that we local citizens need to concern ourselves with, and that is how CISD spends local funds. The TEA has no control over how schools spend monies collected from local taxes. That control is up to the school board and public pressure. The continual waste of local taxes in ways that do not benefit the children’s education will always be the citizen’s responsibility. The complete CISD checkbook, vendor payment file, trial balance and chart of accounts are posted at http://www.CleburnePolitics.com along with explanations of how to tell if an account is local tax dollars or federal or state.

I invite you to join me in inspecting the school’s spending by downloading the financial files and sharing your findings with me.

Harold Gentry