Reporting on key Nebraska K-12 education issues on a daily basis from Susan Darst Williams, a writer who lives at the base of Mount Laundry, Nebraska. To subscribe to this blog's mailing list, and see a variety of other education features and information, visit the main education website, www.GoBigEd.com
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Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Posted
10:45 PM
by Susan Darst Williams
GUESS THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A FREE LUNCH
Take a look at this report out of Nashville. It shows that school district administrators spent about $100,000 at local restaurants, in a scandal that has resulted in several administrators' school credit cards being revoked. However, this columnist laments that it doesn't appear that major changes will be put in place to ensure that it doesn't happen again. Why? Apathy, apparently.
Just because citizens aren't picketing school board meetings, there's no excuse for not having good management practices in place to prevent stuff like this.
Is it too much to ask that a school district employee present a receipt, or if not, no reimbursement will be paid?
Is it too difficult, with all the computer equipment, handhelds, laptops, cell phones, etc., that we've bought for school employees, that they have to get preauthorization before they make an expense? At least have a LITTLE speed bump in their way?
Wonder how much of this is going on in Nebraska school districts:
www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=pluckcommentslocal&key=20091006.tennessean.DN910060336.article.COLUMNIST0101&s=d
Labels: credit card expenditures by public school administrators in Nashville
Comments:
The State Auditor's office in Nebraska doesn't routinely audit school districts, due to lack of resources. So schools must hire their own outside auditors yearly. Many don't, as a way to save money. This is a big mistake.
We have seen locally in Omaha several Catholic and Protestant churces that have been seriously looted by employees and even pastors.Stealing from churces and schools is among the lowest of crimes.
Lavish spending, even if legal, should also be curtailed.There was a recent scandel at Metro Community Colleges regarding lavish entertainment of employees and illegal buying of alcoholic beverages with taxpayer money.Same at UNO. Every government body should be audited yearly by an outside firm of mean, hardnosed nit-pickers. This would tell the taxpayers how their money is being spent. People know what is reasonable and what is excessive.For example, is it necessary for school disticts to throw catered Christmas parties at hotels for all employees? How about pot-luck at the schools, with the school providing drinks, main dishes and modest door prizes? Times are tough!
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We have seen locally in Omaha several Catholic and Protestant churces that have been seriously looted by employees and even pastors.Stealing from churces and schools is among the lowest of crimes.
Lavish spending, even if legal, should also be curtailed.There was a recent scandel at Metro Community Colleges regarding lavish entertainment of employees and illegal buying of alcoholic beverages with taxpayer money.Same at UNO. Every government body should be audited yearly by an outside firm of mean, hardnosed nit-pickers. This would tell the taxpayers how their money is being spent. People know what is reasonable and what is excessive.For example, is it necessary for school disticts to throw catered Christmas parties at hotels for all employees? How about pot-luck at the schools, with the school providing drinks, main dishes and modest door prizes? Times are tough!
# posted by 
: 2:11 PM
: 2:11 PM