The article below is an early report on four separate frauds uncovered by the School District Auditor. Details on amounts lost were not disclosed, so we will follow up on this later to get the details.
Again, this example indicates the importance of having an effective internal audit function in School Districts.
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sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpaudit1013psoct13,0,4953441.story
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
School district wants criminal charges against ex-bookkeeper
By Rhonda J. Miller
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 13, 2007
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The Palm Beach County School District is recommending criminal charges against a former bookkeeper at Loggers Run Middle School west of Boca Raton, School District spokeswoman Vickie Middlebrooks said Friday.
The district referred the Loggers Run case to the State Attorney's Office, with a recommendation from School Police for charges related to grand theft and fraud, Middlebrooks said.
It was one of four cases of possible financial wrongdoing the School District Audit Committee reviewed Friday.
The charges in the Loggers Run case are based on an audit of school finances that ended in May, District Auditor Lung Chiu said.
The district did not release details of the financial problems and names of the employees being investigated because the police and personnel investigations are ongoing. The full audit reports will be released when the investigations are completed, Chiu said.
The bookkeeper has resigned, said district Director of Employee Relations Kenyetta Haywood.
An employee of Panther Run Elementary west of Lake Worth resigned Sept. 4 after criminal charges were filed on Aug. 30. The district has also referred that case to the State Attorney's Office, Chiu said.
The district is also investigating possible financial irregularities at the Boca Raton High School basketball program, Chiu said. School District Police learned of possible problems on July 16.
In the fourth case, School Police and Employee Relations officials investigated possible mishandling of finances and student attendance records at the West Riviera Elementary School Age Child Care program. The investigation began March 16 and School Police completed their efforts in May, turning it over to Employee Relations for personnel actions. The employee resigned Sept. 19 and officials closed the case on Oct. 3, Haywood said.
The Audit Committee also reviewed practices that raised concerns in elementary and middle schools in the past year.
Rhonda Miller can be reached at [email protected] or 561-243-6605.
