You may have caught the
reports on extravagant administrative spending at Wilkinsburg School
District. This link to a recent report
on WTAE includes receipts documenting the expenses:
Wilkinsburg School District, among poorest in
Pa., sparing no expense for consultants: http://www.wtae.com/news/local/investigations/wilkinsburg-school-district-spending-big-bucks-on-consultants/-/12023024/22216142/-/qx5emkz/-/index.html?absolute=true
So what does Wilkinsburg
have to do with Fort Cherry? Previous posts have shown the expensive
administrative retreats and lavish meals enjoyed by FC administration and board
members - paid for with our tax dollars - similar to Wilkinsburg. This is reprehensible behavior by administrators from both districts. What makes Fort Cherry even worse?
This is a receipt from Wilkinsburg which was attached to the WTAE article. According to Wilkinsburg District Policy 331, “expenses shall be paid upon the presentation of an itemized, verified statement of expenses, including receipts. . . “
This is a receipt from Wilkinsburg which was attached to the WTAE article. According to Wilkinsburg District Policy 331, “expenses shall be paid upon the presentation of an itemized, verified statement of expenses, including receipts. . . “
That's not so at Fort Cherry.
This is a document Superintendent
Dinnen submitted for a $2,260 reimbursement.
This document was obtained through a RTK request submitted to Fort
Cherry School District for administrative reimbursements. The RTK asked for all documentation
related to administrative reimbursements.
This document is a renewal
invoice, not a receipt showing payment,
and is simply labeled "PAID BY” and “REIMBURSE TO DINNEN". No proof of payment is attached.
What method of payment was used - personal
check? - personal credit card? – FC district check? - FC district credit card?
FC District Policy 331
reads:
“In all instances of travel
and job related expense reimbursement, full itemization of expenditures shall
be required”
One unsubstantiated document was submitted for a $2,260 reimbursement, yet Business Manager Sroka issued Dinnen a check for the full amount.
Note that the signatures
on the check are stamped. Only Sroka
initialed the check – Sroka authorized the reimbursement, Sroka authorized the
check. Also note that school board approval was not part of that approval
process.
Dinnen did not follow FC District
Policy 331, yet the Business Manager issued a check. Perhaps
this is why the recent unauthorized personal use of the district’s AmEx card
was handled so casually.
It’s important to note that by approving the reimbursement, the board approved the lack of proper procedure.
It’s important to note that by approving the reimbursement, the board approved the lack of proper procedure.
In fact, the board members
have stated publicly that they are not given ANY documentation related to
administrative reimbursements in their board packets. Reimbursements, which are routinely paid out
prior to board approval, are subsequently approved each month in the “bills for
ratification”. At a recent meeting, board member Leann
Darnley asked that reimbursement receipts be included in the board packet, but
board president Jamie White shut her down immediately. White’s reason . . . he didn’t want to be
bothered with more paper in his board packet.
Since the school board (collectively) doesn't want to see reimbursement forms or receipts, undocumented reimbursements like this are unknowingly approved. Brant Miller publicly stated he believes he and his fellow board members have addressed administrative spending. If that were the case, perhaps the administrator who used the district AmEx card for unauthorized personal charges would not have had the card in the first place. Perhaps Dinnen, who himself was reimbursed even though he did not follow policy, would not have felt confident in presenting the inadequate AmEx card investigation to the board.
Since the school board (collectively) doesn't want to see reimbursement forms or receipts, undocumented reimbursements like this are unknowingly approved. Brant Miller publicly stated he believes he and his fellow board members have addressed administrative spending. If that were the case, perhaps the administrator who used the district AmEx card for unauthorized personal charges would not have had the card in the first place. Perhaps Dinnen, who himself was reimbursed even though he did not follow policy, would not have felt confident in presenting the inadequate AmEx card investigation to the board.
The Speaker Series subscription
reimbursement shown here was approved under the tenure of current and past board
members including treasurer, Elmo Cecchetti, Cindy Gaskill, Larry Heirendt, and
Brant Miller.
To clean up unethical
and sloppy business practice, FC needs new leadership in both the administration
and school board.
The board can no longer
claim ignorance to the ridiculous administrative spending. By approving reimbursements without
documentation, the board itself is responsible.
Here’ a little background
on administrative attendance at the Pittsburgh Speaker Series:
Dinnen, Craig, and Jacoby
have consistently attended these lectures along with a select few district
employees. Fort Cherry taxpayers foot the bill for the yearly subscription
to the series as well as dinner for those who attend.
Although the lectures do not begin until 8
p.m., the administrators and guests consistently go out for dinner to “Olive or
Twist”, a martini bar near the Benedum. Alcoholic drinks, placed on a
separate tab and paid for by credit card, were not submitted for reimbursement
on the documentation we have seen.
Consequently, it is not known if a personal or FC credit card was used.
Administrators (Dinnen,
Craig, Jacoby, Sroka) have taken turns submitting the dinner receipts for reimbursement. Although not shown in this post, there are receipts for dinner for each
and every one of the lectures – 7 lectures – 7 dinners per year.
The dinners are coded as “2270
Professional Development / 580 – Travel”. The PDE’s Chart of
Accounts defines professional development as something “designed to contribute to the professional competence of the school
entity’s certified instructional staff”.
In contrast, the Speaker Series appears to be “entertainment”,
especially when combined with dinner and drinks. Click on the links below to see the list of
speakers.
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/0809/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/0910/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/1011/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/1112/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/0809/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/0910/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/1011/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/1112/
http://www.pittsburghspeakersseries.org/
