From: S Bushart
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 8:25 AM
Subject: EISD Community Update #9
March 10, 2006
Dear Eanes Friends,
Former Eanes Athletic
Director Ebbie Neptune requested donations from the Westlake Chaps Club in the
same exact amount of $12,619.00 for 'professional growth' on two separate
occasions; March 29, 2001 and then again April 14, 2003. (see attached
requests). I thought it was interesting that this exact amount was requested
two years apart, so asked to view documents illustrating how this money was
expended by our district. These requests were identified by Eanes ISD as ORR
#957 and ORR #958.
In the documents provided by
our district were a series of checks that didn't have supporting invoices,
purchase orders or receipts reflecting the purpose of these expenditures. Those
check numbers are:
- 00041405
- 00041464
- 00041481
- 00041580
- 00041883
- 00041895
- 00041899
- 00041901
- 00041902
- 00041903
- 00041905
- 00041910
- 00041922
- 00041923
- 00041933
- 00042422
- 00041384
- 00041232
- 00042470
- 00042481
- 00042523
- 00039974
- 00040330
- 00040364
- 00040679
- 00040680
- 00040796
- 00040799
- 00040827
- 00040860
- 00040911
- 00040956
- 00040969
Although, I asked again to
view the invoices/purchase orders or receipts that would show or reflect the
charges paid by these checks, Eanes ISD was unable to produce the documents. I
contacted Dr. Wellman more than once with my concern that these documents were
missing, but she failed to respond (see attached communications).
Records Management
Coordinator Elizabeth Anderson suggested that I file an additional and separate
request for the documents relating to the above referenced checks. I did just
that on July 18, 2005; the district identified this follow-up request as ORR
#1144 and responded that they only had documents related to check #00039974. In
addition, I received a letter from Eanes legal counsel Ellen Hutchital informing
me that the district was seeking an opinion from the Office of the Attorney
General allowing them to exempt responsive documents from disclosure.
In my continuing attempts to
understand the accounting practices for these funds, I contacted Susan Pulis,
Assistant Superintendent Business Services twice asking for her assistance (see
attached). Unfortunately, she has failed to respond to either
communication.
I also noted in documents
provided by the district indicate that one coach appears to have been reimbursed
twice for the same expenditure. I brought this to the attention of Ms. Pulis as
well. (see attached documents)
Questions for
Consideration
- Where are the
documents that support the expenditures relating to the above referenced checks?
- Why haven't district
administrators responded to my communications regarding the absence of this
documentation?
- Why did we expend
district funds on legal fees associated with a request for an opinion from the
Office of the Attorney General attempting to keep these records from
public review?
- Why was an employee
reimbursed twice for the same expense?
Again, I encourage our
district to provide easy access to information
illustrating how our tax dollars are being spent, so that informed decisions
relating to future expenditures can be made.
Wishing all the best for our
students, our parents, our teachers, and our taxpayers,
Susan Bushart
Questions relating to the
disbursements of the above described funds should be directed to:
Susan Pulis, Assistant
Superintendent Business Affairs
spulis@eanes.k12.tx.us
Nola Wellman Superintendent
nwellman@eanes.k12.tx.us
EISD Board of Trustees
trustees@eanes.k12.tx.us
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