Published: April 10, 2008 09:36 am            

Interim approved, report not released

District granted 30-day extension on response

By Philip Navarrette

reporter@trcle.com



The Cleburne ISD school board on Wednesday did not approve releasing the Texas Education Agency report regarding the use of the district’s federal funds but approved hiring Dr. James Warlick as its new interim superintendent.

Board President Stu Madison said last week the 155-page report might be released to the public, but the board decided Wednesday to hold its release until some legal matters are resolved.

“The board and the administration would like to see the immediate release of the TEA preliminary report,” Madison said at the meeting. “However, there are personnel named in this preliminary report, and that issue needs to be addressed with the attorney who represents the school district and its employees.

“If and when that issue is resolved, we anticipate that report will be immediately released by the independent school district.”

Madison said the report’s release may come as soon as the end of the week.

The report, which focuses on the district’s use of federal funds for Title I programs, was released to the district after a year-long investigation.

Soon after the district received the report, Superintendent Robert Damron stepped down.

Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Cody was named temporary interim superintendent.

The board approved Warlick as the new interim superintendent, and he may take over the position as soon as today.

Madison said Warlick comes highly qualified and has worked as superintendent and assistant superintendent in numerous ISDs, including Burleson, Clyde and Calallen ISD in Corpus Christi.

Warlick also has a good working relationship with Tom Canby, the Texas Association of School Business Officials representative who is assisting the district in reviewing TEA’s report.

It is unknown exactly how long Warlick will fill the superintendent’s position, but Madison said it will likely be a few weeks. The board has three more interviews next week for the permanent superintendent position, and it may name a finalist as soon as April 25, he said.

The district was also notified Wednesday that it received approval from the TEA on an extension to May 12 to file a response on the report.

When the district received the report March 11, it had 30 days to send a response back to the agency. The agency then has an additional 30 days to prepare its final report on the district’s spending.

The TEA’s on-site investigation began in February 2007 when TEA auditors went to the district administration building to collect financial records and documents.

The investigation arose from a complaint by Access Cleburne watchdog group member Harold Gentry. Gentry sent a letter to the agency the previous year questioning the district’s use of federal Title I funds, travel and meal expenses for school board members and furniture purchases at CISD, among other financial uses.

The agency initially estimated the investigation would take a couple of months, but it has continued for more than a year.

In October, the TEA closed part of its investigation, asking the district to amend one policy as a result of its findings regarding state funds. However, the investigation into federal funds continued.



By Philip Navarrette

reporter@trcle.com



The Cleburne ISD school board on Wednesday did not approve releasing the Texas Education Agency report regarding the use of the district’s federal funds but approved hiring Dr. James Warlick as its new interim superintendent.

Board President Stu Madison said last week the 155-page report might be released to the public, but the board decided Wednesday to hold its release until some legal matters are resolved.

“The board and the administration would like to see the immediate release of the TEA preliminary report,” Madison said at the meeting. “However, there are personnel named in this preliminary report, and that issue needs to be addressed with the attorney who represents the school district and its employees.

“If and when that issue is resolved, we anticipate that report will be immediately released by the independent school district.”

Madison said the report’s release may come as soon as the end of the week.

The report, which focuses on the district’s use of federal funds for Title I programs, was released to the district after a year-long investigation.

Soon after the district received the report, Superintendent Robert Damron stepped down.

Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Cody was named temporary interim superintendent.

The board approved Warlick as the new interim superintendent, and he may take over the position as soon as today.

Madison said Warlick comes highly qualified and has worked as superintendent and assistant superintendent in numerous ISDs, including Burleson, Clyde and Calallen ISD in Corpus Christi.

Warlick also has a good working relationship with Tom Canby, the Texas Association of School Business Officials representative who is assisting the district in reviewing TEA’s report.

It is unknown exactly how long Warlick will fill the superintendent’s position, but Madison said it will likely be a few weeks. The board has three more interviews next week for the permanent superintendent position, and it may name a finalist as soon as April 25, he said.

The district was also notified Wednesday that it received approval from the TEA on an extension to May 12 to file a response on the report.

When the district received the report March 11, it had 30 days to send a response back to the agency. The agency then has an additional 30 days to prepare its final report on the district’s spending.

The TEA’s on-site investigation began in February 2007 when TEA auditors went to the district administration building to collect financial records and documents.

The investigation arose from a complaint by Access Cleburne watchdog group member Harold Gentry. Gentry sent a letter to the agency the previous year questioning the district’s use of federal Title I funds, travel and meal expenses for school board members and furniture purchases at CISD, among other financial uses.

The agency initially estimated the investigation would take a couple of months, but it has continued for more than a year.

In October, the TEA closed part of its investigation, asking the district to amend one policy as a result of its findings regarding state funds. However, the investigation into federal funds continued.

        

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