Leftist DC Administrators Rip-Off Poor Kids

If there's one school system more corrupt and incompetent than
Baltimore's, it's our sister to the south.

Bro
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http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20050313-114606-3849r.htm

D.C. princes take from the paupers


By Jim McElhatton
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Thousands of dollars in federal funds intended to assist poor D.C.
schoolchildren appear to have been spent instead by school
administrators on retreats and unapproved travel.
D.C. auditors are looking into the public school system's use of
these federal funds.
"You had at least principals and some other managers
participating," Deborah K. Nichols of the Office of the District of
Columbia Auditor says. "No cost was spared."
Mrs. Nichols disclosed the inquiry at an oversight hearing by the
D.C. Council's Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation.

D.C. public schools received more than $10 million in 2004 for
after-school programs, according to city documents. Under the proposed
fiscal 2006 budget, the programs would receive more than $13 million,
which includes federal money and private donations.
Auditors discovered the travel disbursements when they looked into
expenditures of money earmarked last year for after-school child care
programs -- including federal Temporary Aid for Needy Families grants.
The grants are meant to provide child care from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. to
thousands of city students from low-income families.
Officials at the auditor's office said the travel and retreat
expenses involved "thousands of dollars." They said the D.C. public
school system fired at least one employee as a result of the audit
findings, but would not identify the employee.
The audit findings are expected to be released within the next few
months.
Auditors also are looking into whether money was spent for
computers for students who did not participate in the after-school
activities.
Superintendent Clifford B. Janey said the school system is
cooperating fully with the auditor's office, the D.C. Office of the
Inspector General and school-system auditors.
"We continue to cooperate with Mrs. Nichols' office," he said.
The auditor's office has issued eight audits on the school system
since 2001, including one on the number of annual salaries exceeding
$90,000. The findings of that audit are expected to be released next
month, officials said. Auditors used subpoenas to obtain the payroll
figures.
Mrs. Nichols said findings of mismanagement have surfaced
repeatedly in previous inquiries. The office has made 107
recommendations to improve school system operations in the past four
years but fewer than half have been acted on, she said.
"Overall, I would say the easier recommendations have been
implemented," Mrs. Nichols said. "The more difficult ... have not been
implemented at all."
The after-school program audit follows an auditor's office report
last year on the D.C. Department of Human Services' Office of Early
Childhood Development, which also provides money for school-system
after-school programs. The review found overspending in the school
programs by about $4.7 million during 2002.
Angela M. Jones, executive director of DC Action for Children, an
advocacy group, said the after-school programs are important in
keeping children off the streets and out of trouble.
"There is a need out there, and I certainly think this money
spread throughout the community could be well utilized," she said.