CHASING THE PAPER TRAIL: BOARD REACTS TO CREDIT CARD QUESTIONS

Copyright 1995

In the wake of Amy Randol's letter questioning travel expenses incurred by Cape Girardeau school district administrators and board members, some board members have rallied around Superintendent Neyland Clark, while others have questioned his actions.

Randol has spent more than 60 hours in the last six months investigating district finances.

On Wednesday, a Southeast Missourian reporter telephoned the superintendent to ask about the district's use of American Express cards. Minutes later, board member Pat Ruopp returned the call.

Ruopp said the board's community relations committee -- himself and Kathy Swan -- would handle any inquiries about district finances. Ruopp said he had told Clark not to talk with reporters.

Ruopp explained Clark has spent too much time dealing with Randol. He said the board wanted Clark to concentrate on running the district.

Since several questionable American Express charges dealt with board members, Ruopp invited two Missouri reporters to sit in on a meeting he held with Larry Dew, the district's business manager, Wednesday. When the reporters arrived, board members Kathy Swan and Ed Thompson as well as Diane Howard, an attorney for the district, also showed up.

By the meeting's end, Clark, who had been out of his office, had returned and had called an emergency meeting of secretaries, which Howard attended. Clark said later the purpose of the meeting was to let central office employees know what was going on regarding the inquriries about travel expenses.

Board members John Campbell, Bob Fox and Steve Wright wern't told of the Wednesday meeting until later in the week.

Campbell said he hasn't talked with any board members since he received Randol's letter, but he talked with Clark and Dew Friday.

Campbell said, "My instructions all along have been to address, point by point, the issues. If we've made mistakes, admit it. If there is missing documentation, get it."

Campbell, who is an accountant, said if any of Randol's allegations are true, he sees no excuses. "We have down through the years established policies and procedures," Campbell said. "We're not there every day to see that those policies and procedures are followed." Campbell told Clark and Dew that documentation in the form of receipts should always be turned in. "I told them there is no excuse for that," he said. "If there is a problem, that will no longer exist after this."

Fox said Randol's letter brings up serious problems in the district, which the board should investigate. "I think the board as a whole should talk about this, not just the public relations committee." He said he finds the fact that Clark repaid $644 in personal charges the day Randol asked about them "awfully suspicious." He added: "If we require everyone else to keep receipts, he should too. Dr. Clark should lead by example, and he hasn't done that."

At Wednesday's meeting with the two Missourian reporters, the three board members who were there voiced strong support for Clark.

Ruopp praised the superintendent for his openness, candor and the many improvements he has brought to the district.

Thompson agreed: "He's an agent of change, and change was definitely needed."

He recalled executive sessions the board had held after each regular meeting under the former superintendent. Clark told board members many of these meetings were illegal. The board has few closed-door meetings now.

Ruopp said: "Yes, we have been on the defensive in regard to Amy Randol. Not on one single occasion has she expressed any trust in anything we do in any way, shape or form."

In the past, Thompson said, most board members never sought reimbursement for expenses they incurred on district travel.

Thompson said the inquiry into the district's travel expenses has highlighted some problems in accounting procedures, but tightening up accounting measures will probably cost the district more money. "Any time you keep track of expenses so you can turn them in, you won't let as many things slide by."

Thompson also said board members will repay anything owed the district such as credit card charges for alcohol and in-room movies.

But he thinks Randol's inquiries aren't about record keeping. He feels she is attempting a character assassination of Clark.

Fox disagreed.

"I know Amy very well. She did not go into this as a vendetta."

Fox said district personnel have been very rude to Randol.

Tim Niggle, the district's personnel director, threw Randol out of the office on one occasion and yelled at her, Fox said, "which is very unprofessional. Steve Wright and I thought he should be reprimanded for it, but it's not been done. He's our personnel director and he's supposed to be adept at handling people."

On Thursday, Clark went against Ruopp's advice and agreed to be interviewed by the Southeast Missourian.

"I've been on the hot seat once before with allegations and charges," said Clark. "The board didn't want to get into a point, counterpoint. They want to protect the superintendent. I just want to be open and candid."

Board member Lyle Davis also attended the Clark interview, saying he had invited himself. He also is convinced that Randol's efforts are a personal vendetta against Clark, but he said he had no facts to substantiate the claim.

"To date, I have no reason to disbelieve or distrust Neyland Clark," said Davis.

He also said tighter regulation by the district business office would have alleviated these problems.

"I don't think Neyland wants Larry Dew to be a scapegoat, but the business manager position has some responsibility here," said Davis.

Davis said, "If I owe for in-room movies, let's figure out how much the district owes me for mileage" that was never turned in for district-related travel.

Board member Swan approves of Clark's use of an American Express card, and she thinks none of the items Randol has questioned was intentional. But she suggests three practices or policies accompany the credit card's use.

-- No personal charges should be made to a district credit card by anyone. If a personal charge inadvertantly gets on the card, it should be repaid within a set period of time.

-- Any business item that is paid for personally by a board member or district employee will only be reimbursed with supporting receipts.

-- Although legal counsel says detailed receipts aren't necessary for American Express charges, the district should require the receipts anyway.