OSDE’s audit system identifies ‘impermissible requests’ for federal funds

OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) – An email sent by Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters to members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and obtained by 7News highlights the use of a multi-tiered review system to identify inappropriate and unusual requests for federal funds from local education agencies.

In the email, Walters thanks members of the House of Representatives for meeting with him to discuss several programs within the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) and then moves on to talk about the testing system.

“During the meeting, we discussed the multi-layered review system that I have put in place to ensure that federal dollars are spent for their intended purpose,” Walters wrote in an email. “I also provided an example of a claim filed with the SDE for the renovation of a four-unit building owned by the district superintendent.”

The state superintendent then listed 10 different instances in which local officials and education agencies requested federal funds that were caught by the review system for things that OSDE said were inappropriate and unusual.

1. The superintendent traveled to Washington State to attend a professional development conference. He drove from Oklahoma to Washington State in an RV with his family and asked for reimbursement for gas and food expenses.
2. The district asked OTS to pay for faculty renovations/upgrades. They bought a house for the teacher to live in to encourage him to move to their rural community. They then wanted federal funds to pay for renovations and all new equipment, costing about $150,000.
3. The district wanted to use federal funds to rent a movie theater overnight to show a specific movie and allow students and parents to attend for free. Their excuse was that one class in the area had read the book and they thought everyone would like the movie. The district billed it as a parent-family engagement event.
4. The district filed a lawsuit over animals purchased for FFA students.
5. The superintendent wanted to use the funds to renovate a four-unit building so that their rural community would have a place where students they felt were experiencing homelessness could receive short-term housing. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the four-flat house belonged to the superintendent.
6. During a trip to a professional development conference, county officials provided attraction receipts to all participants. Another area made claims for a taxi ride to the Statue of Liberty (tour) and souvenirs purchased.
7. The district submitted its initial consolidated application in late September. The statement was returned to law enforcement agencies five times for corrections. The last time it was submitted to the SDE, the LEA ran it from February to May before final approval.
8. The district wanted to purchase three of these devices so their employees could use them to transport cleaning supplies between buildings. It was a small area with one plot
9. The district asked to build a fitness center for teachers.
10. The LEA purchased a 50 pound bag of dog food. When asked, they said that they bought it for their kindergarten to learn to count.

Walters concluded by saying that the 10 cases listed above highlight the need for such an audit system to ensure taxpayer money is spent responsibly.

“Speed ​​is a priority, but it must be balanced with protecting taxpayer dollars,” Walters wrote in an email.

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