Complaints spark request for audit of Mason City schools

MASON CITY – A Mason City School Board member says in a confidential email obtained by NIT that complaints about mishandled funds led her to request an audit of the school district.

The following email which NIT was able to obtain lays out the reasoning behind school board member Jodi Draper’s correspondence with the state auditor’s office. Her actions have opened the door another audit of financial transactions under the watch of former Superintendent Anita Micich, who abruptly parted ways with the school district in May.

EMAIL AND ATTACHMENTS:

Dear Board Members:

I have received several emails and phone calls about complaints from staff and community who have perceived School Funds were or are being mishandled.

1. Misuse of vacations days by 3 individuals in the administration building.
I did not find any validated documentation to support that claim.

2. That a Person was contracted in 2013 to assess classes and not presented to the board.
I reviewed time cards, contracts and Purchase Orders.
I did not find any validated documentation to support that claim.

3. Complaint that in 2011 Contracted employee received $20,000 above the contracted rate of 37,500 deposited in their personal TSA Account.
I did not find any validated documentation to support this claim. I reviewed the TSA account for 3 contracted employees from years of 2011 to 2015 and all deposits were with in the contracted guidelines.

What you will see below is an electronic correspondence that I have already sent to the State Auditor office for review, as I did find what I felt should be reviewed at the state level.

I have other complaints that I am reviewing, I have also discarded many complaints.

I am sending this as a professional courtesy, as I am not required by law to inform anyone of documents or filed complaints that I have registered with the State of Iowa Auditor office.
I feel it is important to be accountable to each director.

This email is confidential as it lists names of employees and I would request it not be shared with anyone, or be discussed with any staff at this time. Or any other entity except for our Board Attorney Jim Hanks.

If this information is discussed directly with any staff current or past, I will cease my communications on this matter. As this information can damage individuals reputations, and until the State Auditor gives an official direction of these matters, they are alleged incidents and have not been founded or validated with the State of Iowa.

Thank you
Jodi Draper

Electronic Correspondence listed below:

Jennifer

I spoke to you on the phone Thursday morning about an email I received stating that $70,000 was divided up as a Bonus by Hal Minear, Ramona Jeffrey and Anita Micich and deposited in their 403b plan.
I did not find an error with 403B plan but with Purchased orders for buying 30 extra days of vacation that was not contracted or placed for the board review. I found 60 days vacation paid with out a contract for 1 employee and was done with out board action.

1. Ramona Jeffrey opted for early retirement and part of her contract was to be paid out 60 days per diem of Vacation days.
This amounted to $35,178.68 paid out on 7/30/2015

2. Hal Minear also opted out for early retirement he did not have the Vacation clause in his contract, but was also paid $35,178.68 as 60 days paid vacation.

3. Anita Micich did a purchase order for $16,500 for Ramona Jeffrey and also $16,500 for Hal Minear for 30 days additional vacation pay that was not part of a contract for the employees and paid this out on 9/30/2015

It does not appear to me by minutes or Anita contract that she has the authority to authorize these types of payments with out board action. Except for the first 60 day vacation per diem paid out to Ramona Jeffrey as that was a contracted agreement.

On Jan 4th 2016 $24,300 was paid out to Ramona Jefferies as the Early Retirement Package and $22,500 was paid out to Hal Minear as Part of his early retirement Package.
This does appear to be in compliance with the dollar amount they should have received.

So what is in question for me is a Total of $ $68,178.68

The $35,178.68 paid out by Anita to Hal Minear with out a contract to do so for 60 days per diem vacation pay and then the two payments of $16,500 one to Ramona Jeffrey and one to Hal Minear for an additional 30 day per diem vacation package that was not contracted nor placed to the board for a vote to spend this amount of money. Extra vacation days are not part of the early retirement package.

I can not find any documented minutes of the board giving any approval for these actions, nor do I think that these actions were in the scope of Anita Micich with out board approval.

Attachments for verification and review:
Ramona Jeffery Contract
Hal Minear Contract
Payroll Register and Purchase Orders of said dollars for review.

Thank you
Jodi Draper

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