x
Breaking News
More () »

Comptroller's Office: Former Claiborne High principal had employees haul his cattle, mow his fields, among other 'questionable practices'

The Comptroller’s Office said it began an investigation at Claiborne High School after school officials discovered and reported possible employee misconduct, missing funds, and operational deficiencies.

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office released the findings of an investigation Thursday that looked into reported possible employee misconduct, missing funds, and operational deficiencies at Claiborne High School. 

The former Claiborne High School principal, who resigned earlier this year, improperly used school maintenance employees for private purposes, the report said. 

The former principal asked employees to drive his own truck to Middlesboro, Kentucky, for it to be repaired, the report said. A maintenance employee drove the truck there on his lunch break and then waited several hours at the dealership while the repairs were made.

The investigation also found that the former principal had employees haul his personal cattle to the University of Tennessee for treatment on three separate occasions, burn brush at his farm during work hours, and pick up his mail.

According to the report, the former principal also bought items from a vendor for himself using the school’s tax exemption. 

The principal claimed to have instructed his employees to perform other work for private purposes during work hours, the comptroller's report said. Dates and the extent of the work performed could not be verified, but the work included mowing fields at his farm, mowing fields on other farms as part of the principal's side business, taking the principal's tractor tire to be repaired and taking a hay roller owned by the principal to Virginia. 

He also reportedly used “questionable practices” when renting out the school’s multi-purpose room. 

"School accounting records revealed three receipts of $100 and two receipts of $200 for rentals of the multi-purpose room during the principal’s tenure," the report said. "However, according to the principal and maintenance employees, other events were held where rental payments were made in cash or by check directly to maintenance employees."

The Comptroller's Office also found that several payments were inconsistent. Payments were not properly recorded and some were made via check while others were made in cash. 

School board policy states, “Requests for the use of school facilities shall be made to the office of the director of schools at least fifteen (15) days in advance of use.”

School employees also used his private vehicle, according to the report, for school purposes without permission from the director of schools. 

"Maintenance employees used a truck and trailer owned by the principal to haul school materials, and they used a tractor owned by the principal to mow the school grounds. According to school board policy, to use a private vehicle for school purposes, the employee must have written permission from the director of schools/designee and proof of vehicle liability insurance," the report said.

It also said the maintenance employees claimed they used fuel from the school department bus garage fuel pumps to replenish fuel in the principal's tractor. However, there were no records on that and the school board doesn't have a written policy regarding the use of bus garage fuel.

The Comptroller's Office said the lack of a school board policy exposes the school department to risks of fuel being used inappropriately or stolen and the use of private vehicles poses potential liability risks. 

The school's coffee shop record books also displayed deficiencies, the report said. 

The report's recommendation said: 

"Two individuals should prepare a written count of concession collections signed by both responsible individuals; the individuals should then turn in the collections to the school cashier for a receipt and deposit. The school should complete monthly profit analysis reports for the coffee shop documenting collections, expenses, and any profit or losses of money or product. The school must maintain detailed records to support all amounts recorded on these forms."

The director of schools said the issues will be “corrected”.

Claiborne High School has a total student enrollment of approximately 760 students.

LINK: READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

On Wednesday, the Claiborne County Grand Jury considered the evidence and information contained in the Tennessee Comptroller Investigative Report dated Dec.13 regarding the former principal at Claiborne County High School. The Claiborne County Grand Jury declined to return an indictment.  

Before You Leave, Check This Out