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STATE BOARD'S PRACTICES QUESTIONED - Morris Charged For Attending Basketball And Funeral |
| (05/26/2003) |
| State Board of Education continues to have questionable practices, with board members receiving $247,000 in per diem payments of $100 over the past 4.5 years. Former President J. D. Morris charged to attend a funeral and a basketball tournament, according to the Sunday Gazette-Mail. Morris is now in federal prison for taking money from his bank in Clay County. Another former school board member, Cleo Mathews, charged the state for being interviewed by FBI agents during an investigation of former state Superintendent Hank Marockie. The newspaper says a current school board member Sandra Chapman was reimbursed 66 times, or $6,600 over three years, for doing "research, writing e-mails and preparing for meetings." State board members, who are appointed by the governor, don't receive a salary, but make a minimum of $2,400 a year for attending 24 board meetings State law says board members are to claim $100 for part of any day spent on board-related business. They also get reimbursed for travel expenses. School officials say the practice is not illegal, but may not be appropriate. The board has been under scrutiny for several months, including contracts let by a former assistant who many have been involved in dubious practices. He resigned his position. The board's President J. D. Morris resigned after he reportedly stole about $170,000 from his bank. Former school official Hank Marockie was caught up in allegations of ethical misconduct, including "lying" on a resume he sent to another state. The state board has been under criticism over school consolidation, when the rest of the country has been moving toward smaller, community based schools. |
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