Published: May 19, 2008 02:51 pm      

TEA response to be revealed

By Philip Navarrette

reporter@trcle.com



Cleburne ISD’s response to the 155-page Texas Education Report on the district’s spending of federal funds will be unveiled at a special called Tuesday meeting.

The board will disclose its response to the TEA report that says the district owes more than $365,000 to the state for misuse of federal funds.

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

The board will also consider a 2008-09 teacher pay scale. The board considered two pay scales at its May 12 meeting — one from board secretary Jennifer Dugger and one from Assistant Superintendent Mike Bailey.

The board wanted more information on the steps of the pay scale before making a final decision.

The board will also recognize the district’s all-county soccer students and canvass the votes from the May 10 school board election.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the board room of the administration building, 505 N. Ridgeway.