………I’m still pondering how the Hancock County School District ended up being taken over by the State Board of Education. Oh, I know why it happened and I know the chronology of when it happened. The people from downstate did a good job of explaining that part of the equation. We have the three year’s worth of audits and they may tell the story.
………What I don’t know and what I bet every citizen in this County wants to know is “who” caused us to be in this position and what action did they take or not take that kept us on this destructive path. Hancock County Schools and its students have been wronged and I don’t know about you, but I want to see that person or persons punished.
…….I love a good mystery. Ferreting out the dates that don’t match up; the actions that seem to have no explanation; the person we trusted and now we know our trust led us astray, but I don’t love this mystery. We know the administrators who ignored the State’s warning about the financial implications of continuing to carry an additional 143 staff and the $10 million price tag it incurred. Had they started years ago to reduce staff, the impact would not be so great. Now, one-third of the School Districts workforce.
……But the machinations that were taking place for the past few years with money being moved, State e-mails on financial reports not returned, corrective action plans not implemented and finally, not coming forth with the situation until the CFO was fired and the wolf was at the door…….that blame lies with individuals;
…….”Transparency is not an option!” The representative of the Union representing the employees laid it on the line when she spoke to the Board, the new superintendent and the crowd at the last Board meeting. Superintendent Walt Saunders directed me to Jeff Kelly at the State Dept. of Education to answer my questions about investigations and charges which might be filed. Mr. Kelly did not take my call, but I did talk to Christy Day, director of Communications. She confirmed that there are investigations ongoing in several areas and the officials who would press charges are Federal, State or County depending on the offense. Beyond that I got nothing.
…….We know there are a lot of moving parts. We have the three years worth of clean audits, but have not been given a reason the auditing firm was fired. The information for the audit has been turned over to the State Auditor’s office so there has yet to be an audit. If the school system was in financial arrears why, only two months before being able to make payroll, was the Board advised it was fine to take out a $3 million lease for turf and lights which carries a $500,000.00 per year price tag. Is it maladministration or malfeasance or something beyond?
……..I was astonished that 11 candidates filed for the Board of Education. With the Board takeover the Board has no power to vote on any issue right down to the agenda. Did some research and found that the average takeover of a school system is 7 years. The State must review the County School Board on an annual basis after the takeover to determine if the problems have been resolved. If after 5 years, the state has not returned the school district to the County, a public hearing is held. Currently 8 counties are under the control of the State. What differentiates Hancock is that it was not our low test scores that prompted the takeoer. Our students excel in that area. It was our financial mismanagement and I anticipate a lengthy and ugly resolution to that issue.
