KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced Thursday that his investigation of the Hickman Mills School District has uncovered "potential improper governmental activity," prompting a performance audit of the district.
“The Hickman Mills School District is fully cooperating with the state auditor’s office and has already begun the process of conducting an internal assessment of budgetary and financial practices,” Dr. Dennis Carpenter, the district's interim superintendent, said at a press conference on Thursday.
Carpenter continued, “Our leadership team, along with our board, is committed to accountability, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and transparency.”
Watch Carpenter's full comments in the video player below.
Fitzpatrick said in a press release that his office notified the district this week that the investigation had uncovered "significant issues."
He said the next step will be to transition to a full audit that will examine most aspects of district operations.
The investigation into the Hickman Mills School District began back in March after a whistleblower complaint raised concerns about travel expenditures paid for with a school credit card that may not have represented an appropriate use of school funds.
"School-funded trips to Ghana and China raised red flags for many parents and taxpayers in the Hickman Mills School District and I'm glad they brought these issues to our attention so we could start the process of holding the district accountable for its actions," Fitzpatrick said. "At a time when the school district is struggling to gain full accreditation, it's best they use the hard-earned tax dollars of district residents on providing a foundational education that prepares students for the future."
The investigation also looked into the cancellation of a technology contract, resulting in a $1.4 million termination fee for the district.
Carpenter said the district's budget is significantly more strained than was previously presented.
"It's a challenge, but we're up for the challenge," he said.
Carpenter also said the district has gone from 47 credit cards issued to district employees to about three.
More information on the district's financial woes would be presented at Thursday's board meeting at 6 p.m., according to Carpenter.
"It's unfortunate it's reached this point," Carpenter said.
Throughout the investigation, the Hickman Mills School District has gone through change at the administrative level.
Former Superintendent Yaw Obeng had a five-year stint as the district's leader before he was removed back in July.
During Obeng's tenure, the district saw more student enrollment, a significant improvement in academics, and higher teacher salaries.
The board appointed Carpenter as interim superintendent after Obeng was removed.
Carpenter previously served as the district's superintendent from 2013 to 2017.
"When I got to Hickman Mills back in 2013, I saw potential," Carpenter told KSHB 41 earlier in August. "When I left in 2017, I saw progress, and having been gone now for a period of about eight years, I see a lot of momentum."
Carpenter said the challenges the district faces are much like those he faced when he became the district's superintendent in 2013.
"It's gonna take some time," he said.
Carpenter later became superintendent of the Lee's Summit School District before resigning due to disagreements with the school board and further lawsuits.
The Hickman Mills School District has also struggled to secure a reclassification after losing its accreditation status back in 2012.
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