On June 29, 2015 the Ashland Independent reported in “Auditor blisters Fairview school in report” that yet another case of improper use of school funds – this time in the Fairview Independent School District – is being referred to law enforcement and the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board, an indication of the seriousness of the findings.

Per the Independent, inappropriate funding actions found in the special audit included moving money from the general fund to the activities fund, especially to fund the male football program at the expense of general education activities in the district. The auditor says this football funding action probably violated federal Title IX legislation that says male and female athletics must receive the same funding. The article says the special audit provides additional information that this violation of Title IX might have been willful.

Of interest to taxpayers, while the district allowed the football team to run up an operational deficit which was later covered by the apparently inappropriate fund transfers, taxpayers were hit with a major increase in local school taxes.

There are also findings that the district’s superintendent used a district credit card for personal purchases and engaged in other questionable activities including using intimidation.

This latest State Auditor report adds to cases from the Dayton Independent School District and the Mason County School District which have seen one former superintendent sent to federal prison and another facing court in a few months.

As the State Auditor has continuously pointed out, the activities uncovered are damaging education. They need to stop.