School District on Grand Jury: We’re On It Already voiceofsandiego.org.

Education

School District on Grand Jury: We’re On It Already

San Diego Unified just issued a statement in response to a new county grand jury report that highlights misuse of student government funds, illegal fees for student activities and other problems, many of which were already uncovered by school district internal auditors.

The school district has until the end of August to write a detailed response to the concerns and recommendations. Its statement says, in part:

Prior to the release of the report, the district had already taken numerous actions related to the Grand Jury's findings. The district Fraud Hotline, established in 2006, continues to provide an invaluable service for the district in combating waste, abuse and corruption. Investigations stemming from the Hotline have resulted in corrective action, including the discipline and termination of district employees as well as saving the district millions of dollars. ...

Similarly, the Board of Education has been very proactive by having staff issue guidelines about the proper use of student fees, charges, deposits, donations and fundraising related to courses and activities were developed and distributed to all school sites in December 2009.

-- EMILY ALPERT

Posted in Schooled, This just in on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 3:56 pm. Comments (2)

County Grand Jury: Schools Misuse Student Money, Charge Illegal Fees

A county grand jury report released today criticizes San Diego Unified schools for misusing more than $100,000 meant for student government, instead spending it on school supplies, equipment and things that benefit faculty, such as a Christmas party for employees. The problems were originally uncovered in internal school district audits.

Such money is meant for extra activities, not the basics that schools are supposed to supply. The report states that the problem is widespread: Roughly 75 percent of schools audited by school district investigators had misused the funds, including the School for Creative and Performing Arts, Hoover High, Longfellow Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Mission Bay High and Washington Elementary.

The grand jury, a volunteer citizen group that investigates local governments, recommended San Diego Unified require more training for principals, vice principals, financial clerks and student government advisors to ensure they have checks and balances to track and control how money is spent. It also advised the school district to increase its auditing staff.