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2theadvocate.com | News | School for Deaf probes claims — Baton Rouge, LA
Louisiana School for the Deaf officials said they are addressing reports of misappropriation of state property and other allegations raised Monday in a report by the state inspector general.
Inspector General Sharon Robinson said her office received 22 allegations of improprieties, some of which were not valid. The majority of the allegations are targeted at the school’s maintenance department.
Several employees were found to be “borrowing” the school’s tools and equipment, misusing state credit cards assigned to them, and purchasing items that could not be located at the school.
Two school employees in the maintenance department resigned during the audit.
The school, in Baton Rouge, serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families, some of whom reside on the school’s campus.
Kenny David, the school’s interim director, said Monday he was surprised when the inspector general brought the allegations to his attention in June and disappointed with what has occurred. But the school took immediate action when they learned of the allegations, he said.
“The students’ welfare and safety were never in question,” he said.
State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek’s response to Robinson, included in the report, showed that he agreed with some of the inspector general’s findings, including allegations that maintenance managers took furniture that had been donated to the school and that one employee lied to auditors.
However, Pastorek provided justification for some purchases that were considered questionable in the audit, such as an approved purchase requisition for T-shirts and inflatable bananas, which were used for training activities.
Pastorek also outlined the school’s plan for corrective action, parts of which have already been completed, he wrote.
For instance, the school is developing a work order system that tracks materials and supplies used on school projects, and an inventory system to routinely count tools and equipment, Pastorek wrote. The school also plans to reduce the number of credit card holders and train business office staff in identifying and reporting misuses.
Robinson said her office acts on whatever allegations it receives. Since she became inspector general in March 2005, this is the first time her office received complaints about the Louisiana School for the Deaf, she said.
Robinson said her office is forwarding her report to the state Board of Ethics, the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney and Louisiana State Police.
“We will leave it up to them to determine if there is anything of a criminal nature,” she said.
Louisiana School for the Deaf officials said they are addressing reports of misappropriation of state property and other allegations raised Monday in a report by the state inspector general.
Inspector General Sharon Robinson said her office received 22 allegations of improprieties, some of which were not valid. The majority of the allegations are targeted at the school’s maintenance department.
Several employees were found to be “borrowing” the school’s tools and equipment, misusing state credit cards assigned to them, and purchasing items that could not be located at the school.
Two school employees in the maintenance department resigned during the audit.
The school, in Baton Rouge, serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families, some of whom reside on the school’s campus.
Kenny David, the school’s interim director, said Monday he was surprised when the inspector general brought the allegations to his attention in June and disappointed with what has occurred. But the school took immediate action when they learned of the allegations, he said.
“The students’ welfare and safety were never in question,” he said.
State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek’s response to Robinson, included in the report, showed that he agreed with some of the inspector general’s findings, including allegations that maintenance managers took furniture that had been donated to the school and that one employee lied to auditors.
However, Pastorek provided justification for some purchases that were considered questionable in the audit, such as an approved purchase requisition for T-shirts and inflatable bananas, which were used for training activities.
Pastorek also outlined the school’s plan for corrective action, parts of which have already been completed, he wrote.
For instance, the school is developing a work order system that tracks materials and supplies used on school projects, and an inventory system to routinely count tools and equipment, Pastorek wrote. The school also plans to reduce the number of credit card holders and train business office staff in identifying and reporting misuses.
Robinson said her office acts on whatever allegations it receives. Since she became inspector general in March 2005, this is the first time her office received complaints about the Louisiana School for the Deaf, she said.
Robinson said her office is forwarding her report to the state Board of Ethics, the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney and Louisiana State Police.
“We will leave it up to them to determine if there is anything of a criminal nature,” she said.