School is reimbursed $588 spent on alcohol

7/15/2005

COLUMBUS - A parents' organization has reimbursed Toledo School for the Arts after a state audit challenged the spending of $588 in public money on alcohol for a school fund-raiser.

"It is not justifiable to use citizens' hard-earned tax dollars to pay for alcohol, and it is hard to imagine that the public would find that practice acceptable," state Auditor Betty Montgomery said.

Teacher David Gierke had received reimbursement from the charter school for the expenditure.

After the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, flagged the reimbursement and sought to recover the funds from Mr. Gierke, the school's fiscal agent, Richard Cox, and the school's insurance company, a parents' organization refunded the money.

The organization previously had paid such expenses, according to the auditor's office.

The only other audit finding involved a double payment of a $358 expense for Director Martin Porter, who has since repaid the money.

The school had total revenue of $2.26 million during the year audited.