Gazette: Audits reveal loose spending practices in high schools

The Gazette's Marcus Moore reports on Audits obtained this year by the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland:

A series of recently released audits shows questionable spending practices at some county high schools, even though school system officials raised a red flag on some of the same issues last year...

In some cases, the money earned through school-sponsored activities was not turned in to the schools' financial offices soon enough, thereby increasing the risk of loss or misuse. In other cases, funds were spent without the principals' approval.

In all cases at the respective schools, the money was taken from Independent Activity Funds, which are collected from classroom fees, event ticket sales and fundraisers. School system policy says that unless otherwise designated, the funds belong to the student body and may not be used to benefit staff or particular student groups...

At Walt Whitman High School, auditors noticed that the school's checking account was overdrawn four times, in part because of delays in recording receipts, according to the audit.

At Montgomery Blair High School, where staff made a purchase for walkie-talkies that exceeded $6,500 without Bowers' permission. Another check for $5,163 had no documents to support the disbursement, according to the school's audit.

Officials at Damascus High School made two purchases — both for more than $6,500 — without approval.

At James Hubert Blake High School, employees spent money on three drama productions without the approval of the principal, Carole C. Goodman...