Cleburne ISD and Board Kept Mike Bailey's Resignation Quiet for Six Weeks

Cleburne ISD and Board Kept Mike Bailey's Resignation Quiet for Six Weeks
Cleburne ISD and Board Kept Mike Bailey 's Resignation Quiet for Six Weeks April 16, 2009 –Information obtained from an Open Records request reveals that Mike Bailey, former Financial Officer, submitted his resignation on March 3, 2009, six weeks before CISD finally responded to an Open Records Request from CleburnePolitics.com. Mike Bailey was the financial officer during the period audited by the Texas Education Agency in which CISD had to repay $362,000 in misspent federal funds. Then on February 23, 2009, Cleburne ISD’s independent auditor’s report for 2007-2008 confirmed that the school had not cured the ills found by the Texas Education Agency. The auditor’s report was presented to the school board Monday, February 23 in an unusual daytime meeting which left most of the working public and two of the school board members unable to attend. Superintendent Dr. Ronny Beard had received the report earlier. Mike Bailey and District officials had claimed publicly that they had corrected the lax accounting procedures practiced in previous years and uncovered by the Texas Education Agency’s partial examination of years 2003 – 2006. This independent audit by local firm Gilliam, Wharram & Co. revealed that accounting and control procedures were still deficient. The School Board recently renewed Mike Bailey's contract for two more years. His pay is around $461 per day. He is being paid through June 30, 2009. A photocopy of Bailey's resignation was furnished by CISD's Dr. Darlene Callendar on April 16, one day after CleburnePolitics.com announced the resignation based on other proof in the form of supporting documents provided to the school board. The Open Records request for a copy of Bailey's resignation was made March 26, but CISD delayed responding until after CleburnePolitics.com obtained enough evidence in other ways to make the resignation public. Here's the timeline:: March 3 - Mike Bailey submitted his resignation. See photocopy of resignation here. March 9 - School Board met. On the agenda was an item "Report on Resignations and Auxiliary Hirings." No mention was made in public of Mike Bailey's resignation. March 13 - Superintendent Ronny Beard wrote on the resignation "Accepted RBeard 3-13-03" (sic). March 26 - CleburnePolitics.com submitted an Open Records request for a copy of Bailey's resignation. April 9 - CISD's Dr. Darlene Callendar called CleburnePolitics and said she would not be able to provide the information requested until after the 10-day deadline for Open Records requests, but she would provide it after the school board meeting. April 13 - School Board met. Tucked into their "Consent Agenda" was the item "Report on Resignations and Auxiliary Hirings." No mention was made in public of Bailey's resignation. Dr. Callendar left immediately after the meeting before Alden Nellis of CleburnePolitics.com had a chance to speak to her. April 15 - CleburnePolitics.com's Open Records request was still unfulfilled by CISD. CleburnePolitics.com published the story that Mike Bailey had resigned based on supporting documents normally provided to the school board on Thursdays before the Monday meetings. Alden Nellis had obtained the supporting documents before the April 13 meeting. April 16 - Morning - The Cleburne Times-Review printed a story on Bailey's resignation, saying they had just learned of it the day before. (Obviously after CleburnePolitics.com posted the story.) CISD's PR person Lisa Magers could not explain why it had not been made public. April 16 - Afternoon - Dr. Darlene Callendar provided a copy of the resignation which was requested on March 26.

Cleburne ISD and Board Kept Mike Bailey 's Resignation Quiet for Six Weeks

April 16, 2009 –Information obtained from an Open Records request reveals that Mike Bailey, former Financial Officer, submitted his resignation on March 3, 2009, six weeks before CISD finally responded to an Open Records Request from CleburnePolitics.com.

Mike Bailey was the financial officer during the period audited by the Texas Education Agency in which CISD had to repay $362,000 in misspent federal funds. Then on February 23, 2009, Cleburne ISD’s independent auditor’s report for 2007-2008 confirmed that the school had not cured the ills found by the Texas Education Agency. The auditor’s report was presented to the school board Monday, February 23 in an unusual daytime meeting which left most of the working public and two of the school board members unable to attend. Superintendent Dr. Ronny Beard had received the report earlier.

Mike Bailey and District officials had claimed publicly that they had corrected the lax accounting procedures practiced in previous years and uncovered by the Texas Education Agency’s partial examination of years 2003 – 2006. This independent audit by local firm Gilliam, Wharram & Co. revealed that accounting and control procedures were still deficient.

The School Board recently renewed Mike Bailey's contract for two more years. His pay is around $461 per day. He is being paid through June 30, 2009.

A photocopy of Bailey's resignation was furnished by CISD's Dr. Darlene Callendar on April 16, one day after CleburnePolitics.com announced the resignation based on other proof in the form of supporting documents provided to the school board.

The Open Records request for a copy of Bailey's resignation was made March 26, but CISD delayed responding until after CleburnePolitics.com obtained enough evidence in other ways to make the resignation public.

Here's the timeline::

March 3 - Mike Bailey submitted his resignation. See photocopy of resignation here.

March 9 - School Board met. On the agenda was an item "Report on Resignations and Auxiliary Hirings." No mention was made in public of Mike Bailey's resignation.

March 13 - Superintendent Ronny Beard wrote on the resignation "Accepted RBeard 3-13-03" (sic).

March 26 - CleburnePolitics.com submitted an Open Records request for a copy of Bailey's resignation.

April 9 - CISD's Dr. Darlene Callendar called CleburnePolitics and said she would not be able to provide the information requested until after the 10-day deadline for Open Records requests, but she would provide it after the school board meeting.

April 13 - School Board met. Tucked into their "Consent Agenda" was the item "Report on Resignations and Auxiliary Hirings." No mention was made in public of Bailey's resignation. Dr. Callendar left immediately after the meeting before Alden Nellis of CleburnePolitics.com had a chance to speak to her.

April 15 - CleburnePolitics.com's Open Records request was still unfulfilled by CISD. CleburnePolitics.com published the story that Mike Bailey had resigned based on supporting documents normally provided to the school board on Thursdays before the Monday meetings. Alden Nellis had obtained the supporting documents before the April 13 meeting.

April 16 - Morning - The Cleburne Times-Review printed a story on Bailey's resignation, saying they had just learned of it the day before. (Obviously after CleburnePolitics.com posted the story.) CISD's PR person Lisa Magers could not explain why it had not been made public.

April 16 - Afternoon - Dr. Darlene Callendar provided a copy of the resignation which was requested on March 26.