Bell City school funding case goes to attorney general's office

~ Stoddard County prosecutor asks attorney general's office to investigate Bell City school case

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn has asked the Missouri Attorney General's office to review a state investigate report on the Bell City School District illegally obtaining state aid.

Welborn declined Monday to discuss his reasons for forwarding the matter to the attorney general's office.

He earlier had agreed to look at the issue at the request of former Bell City school board member Curtis Finney who contends school officials are guilty of "gross public mistrust and illegal activities."

An investigation earlier this year by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education found that school officials counted 10 students who didn't reside in the district in enrollment numbers used to obtain state aid.

Check out Tuesday's Southeast Missourian for more details.