Friday, January 07, 2000
Auditor: Voucher school owes $80,000
BY ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — The Education Department is changing the way it monitors tuition voucher schools after an audit released Thursday said more than $80,000 is owed from a voucher program in Cleveland.
The Islamic Academy School of Arts and Sciences received $69,967 for students who weren't attending the school, State Auditor Jim Petro said.
Mr. Petro said the school owes another $11,723 for utility bills paid by Cleveland City Schools that were the school's responsibility. Mr. Petro also said Americab Inc., a Cleveland taxi company, owes the state $5,250 for transportation costs for voucher students who weren't in school the day the company billed its costs.
State Schools Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman said the Education Department will try to retrieve the money from school officials. Mr. Petro also has forwarded his audit to the Cuyahoga County prosecutor for possible criminal charges.
“Whenever you see facts that could allow someone to reach a conclusion that there might have been criminal misconduct, we forward a report to the county prosecutor,” Mr. Petro said.
Mr. Petro said his office hadn't been able to reach any school officials about the audit results.
School officials could not be reached Thursday. The Islamic school's listed phone number has been disconnected.
Robert Roesch, Americab general manager, would not comment Thursday.
Since the Education Department began inspecting the academy and other non-chartered voucher schools last summer, the department has required that all voucher schools be chartered by the state, Tave Zelman said.
The department has also created a policy and procedures manual for voucher schools, begun verifying income and residence of students, is reducing the use of taxicabs and is checking tutors' backgrounds.
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