Some held hands and others raised their arms as more than 100 people sang a resounding "We Shall Overcome” at the Oklahoma City School District's administration building Monday morning ahead of the school board's decision to suspend Superintendent John Porter.
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The standing-room-only crowd filled the auditorium, which is nearly empty during routine board meetings.
Shortly after Porter went into a conference room to meet briefly with board members, his wife, Linda, thanked the crowd, most of which stayed past the start of their workdays to show their support.
"Thank you very much for everything that you've done,” Linda Porter said. "We are asking for divine justice,” she said as the crowd echoed shouts of "Amen!”
Her voice broke as she asked that her husband be given a chance to explain and rectify allegations.
When John Porter returned to the auditorium, he reiterated as he has done throughout the weekend that he hoped not to be suspended, and to have the opportunity to do the job he was brought in to accomplish.
But that is not the way the day went.
In open session, former U.S. Attorney Robert McCampbell summarized the investigative report on Porter, which the board unanimously voted to accept.
Audience members created a ruckus as the board tried to continue.
Board member Thelma Parks abstained from the vote to suspend Porter, although she voted in favor of adopting the report and in favor of appointing an interim superintendent, Sandra Park.
Joe Clytus, a black board member, drew gasps from the audience when he cast his vote to suspend Porter.
The board soon recessed the meeting until its usual 5:30 p.m. time.
Retired U.S. Attorney John Green, who said he came to the meeting as a concerned citizen, said he had several problems with the way the meeting began.
The board's agenda states that its members first will convene in open meeting, adopt the agenda, and then go into executive session.
The board never convened in open session first. However, that is not a departure from how the board normally operates.
Green also said he was concerned that the meeting was moved from 5:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.
"The citizens, who are the taxpayers, have to go to work,” he said.
Previously, School Board Chairman Cliff Hudson told The Oklahoman the meeting time was moved up to prevent Porter from mixing with employees who "put themselves on the line” in the report. Also, Hudson said the 5:30 p.m. time is not set in stone. "We meet when we need to meet,” he said earlier.
Members of the crowd indicated there would be wider repercussions if Porter is fired.
"If they come out here and fire him — oh you think we've raised an effort here, oh, we're gonna kill that sales tax on March 4,” said Shirley Darrell, a former county commissioner and former school board member.
Darrell also said she and others leaders had gathered between 3,000 and 4,000 signatures on a petition to ask Rep. Mike Shelton to request an audit of the district's finances and management.
Hudson said later the district is audited each year by independent auditors, and that the district expects a clean audit for the fifth consecutive year.
But Darrell said she thinks Hudson, the board chairman who also is CEO of Sonic, is part of the problem: "Mr. Hudson is used to being CEO where he's used to people doing what he says.”
Hudson responded that while the issue can be made to be a personal issue, that's not what it's really about. Rather, the matter is about the fiscal integrity of the district.
"I'm the one that approached John Porter. I'm the one that contacted him first and as some of you know in here, I paid for him and his wife to fly to Oklahoma City to look at (the city). So the suggestion that we never got along is absolutely not accurate,” Hudson said.
Della Dean, a single mother of three and an adjunct professor at Langston University, said what is happening now is a shame. Porter is really trying to turn the district around, she said.
"We do need people like Cliff Hudson and Sonic. We do need people like Devon and Chesapeake,” Dean said. "As far as all the allegations, I don't know what they all are. That's why I'm here.”
Monday evening, the board reconvened to a room of more than 100 people and a horde of TV cameras. Nineteen signed up to speak, almost every one of whom enthusiastically supported Porter.
Anna King, district PTA president-elect, compared Porter's experience to the movie "Lean on Me.”
What's next?
There will be a hearing on Feb. 6. The public will not be allowed to speak. Porter will be allowed to present evidence and formally defend the allegations against him before the board. The board also can vote then whether or not to terminate his employment.
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I met Mr. Porter at a Whiz Kids inner city mentoring program in October and have never been so impressed with a man. The allegations appear very frivalous. It seems that the school board feels frustrated they cant control Mr. Porter. Change is hard to accept, probably hardest to accept within the education system. Mr. Porter spoke of the need of change in the OKC school system and if you have ever visited John Marshall high school you understand why. I am very dissapointed in the boards decision to make a personal problem become a professional problem. I am one who will be avoiding Sonic restuarants. Oklahoma City will be losing a man they fought very hard to get.
Other reports said that Mr. Porter was "suspended with pay" Let's see now if this makes any sense, someone is alleged to have misapproriated money and you are rewarding him with what amounts to a paid vacation? That is freakin' hilarious...
"... oh, we're gonna kill that sales tax on March 4,” said Shirley Darrell, a former county commissioner and former school board member. _______________________________________________
Although there is NO connection with the sales tax (not bond issue) vote for the Ford Center and OKC schools (other than the MAPS for Kids tax will end and the Ford Center tax will begin), I am all for Ms. Darrell's oposition to the tax. Contary to what some articles and more than one person have posted, the Ford Center Tax is NOT an extension of the current tax. The Penny for MAPS for Kids ends at the end of this year. It goes away. If passed, the Ford Center tax will take its place. So, there is no extension, it is a tax INCREASE no matter what the Mayor and supporters want to say/try to spin it. Really wish everyone could keep their facts straight.
I think at the very least, he sees himself as above the school board. More realistically, he is out for himself. Someone who puts himself and his ego ahead of the clients served (our kids) should be working in sales. Not public service. Also, ask any attorney you know, money misappropriation is what they take you down for. They let you get away and get your license back for most of the rest. But I didn't see he was a licensed attorney, just that he has a law degree. At any rate, he had classes in professional ethics and there was plenty of discussion on handling money that is not yours.
Good. Glad this has come up. I know of a couple of non-profit boards whose spending habits are even more scandalous than this situation. Maybe there will be a ripple effect? Maybe reporters will start to dig in misappropriation of public AND non-profit funding. Apparently, the community sees value in this topic and is willing to discuss it ad nauseum on these forums! Keep it up..
Good. Glad this has come up. I know of a couple of non-profit boards whose spending habits are even more scandalous than this situation. Maybe there will be a ripple effect? Maybe reporters will start to dig in misappropriation of public AND non-profit funding. Apparently, the community sees value in this topic and is willing to discuss it ad nauseum on these forums! Keep it up..
Good. Glad this has come up. I know of a couple of non-profit boards whose spending habits are even more scandalous than this situation. Maybe there will be a ripple effect? Maybe reporters will start to dig in misappropriation of public AND non-profit funding. Apparently, the community sees value in this topic and is willing to discuss it ad nauseum on these forums! Keep it up..
Shame for shame for shame...playing the 'race card'. Remind you of anyone? Maybe the illegal Mexican citizens of whom are MANY in this man's school? What an example for the CHILDREN! Just use an 'EXCUSE' to bypass the law and personal responsibility. Unless their main objective are courses in Crookism. Breaking the law 101? The man already admitted he was guilty on t.v. He said he didn't know it was wrong, he would pay them back. Guess one bad apple DOES spoil the whole bunch. And shame on those people backing him in their 'racist' knee-jerk attitude. They make the whole race look bad. I wouldn't blame their people if they lynched the WHOLE mob that defends the breaking of our laws and are attempting to destroy the whole process and creation of civil rights that Martin Luther gave his life to create. Shame on them!!!
Neal if Mr. Porter had been white he would not have been suspended just patted on the back behind closed doors and told not to do it anymore. Get real you are way off base with this black and white thing and as far as Mr. Porter being ignorant you are out of line. He may have made some wrong judgement errors but he unlike you is far from ignorant.
John Porter is a fraud to education and to himself. His way of thinking brings and problem solving brings constant chaos with few positive results. Change is inevitable. How the process occurs is not. The sooner John P. moves on, the quicker the district can locate and hire a "REAL LEADER".
I agree, James. Shirley Darrell couldn't think of anything else in which to try and find leverage, so she attacked the March 4 bond issue even though it has nothing to do with the okc schools. She was talking out of her *** because her mouth knew better. As far as Mr. Hudson's children being educated outside the okc school district, take a poll of all the okc district faculty and see how many of them live outside the district which means their children attend schools outside the district. When I was teaching at an okc school, almost all the teachers lived outside the district; thus, their children didn't have to go to okc schools.
I take exception to Ms Darrell's adolescent comments about killing the March 4 sales tax issue (the one for renovation of the Ford Center) if Mr Porter is fired. I take it Ms Darrell is not interested in the facts of the case only that Mr Porter is African American and that's all that matters - regardless of his performance. I, like most other reasonable people I would hope, want the facts in this case to come out and come out quickly. On the face of the questions put to Mr Porter which were reported in the 8 Jan 08 edition of the Oklahoman, and Mr Porter's responses, I would say he has a bit more explaining to do. The appearance of impropriety is such that it speaks poorly of an individual in a position such as Mr Porter's whereby reputation is everything. The outcome of Mr Porter's case should not in any way be tied to the success or failure of the March 4 sales tax question. Ms Darrell, you should be ashamed of yourself. Your insidious comments do nothing to promote mature resolution of difficult issues which face this city, county, state and nation on any given day. Why not try and see both sides of the issue with an open mind?
Randall...good question. Truth is, Mr.Hudson was elected by receiving the most votes by the District's voters. As for where his children attend(ed) school...not many CEO's are gonna take advantage of a free public education...ya think? I imagine they will be attending OU at some point seeing as how Mr. Hudson is an alumni.
Maybe he is on the board because as a businessman, it is only to his benefit to see OKC with one of the best school systems around. Obviously, he feels this way, since he is working hard on having it run honestly.
Can anyone tell me if Mr. Hudson's children go to private or public schools? I heard they went to a private school? If so...why is he on the school board?
If you support what the school board has done, contact your local board member and show your support. We cannot let this mob mentality get in the way of due process
The only racists are the ones playing the race card. If Mr. Porter were white, there would not be this ruckus. He would have been fired. Mr. Porter acted inappropriately. If he was unaware of this, then he has no business running our schools. Accept responsibility for your ignorance, Mr. Porter.
Fine him, put him on probation and lets move on. The only people that are making an issue out of this are the Racists that will never let racism die in the black community. (The white man does this sort of thing all the time) That is what was on the news being qouted by an older lady. Shame on her. If the USA didn't have racism there wouldn't be any reason left for the racist black community for not ever trying to better themselves. It is always the white mans fault. I am American Indian, Black, German, Italian and French. I AM AN AMERICAN. BLACK RACIST COMMUNITY GET OVER IT! IT GETS REALLY OLD
The problem certainly appears to fall upon the person responsible for approving such expenditures (NOT! Mr. Porter).
Given my 20 plus years of experience in the “State Reimbursement Act” any employee seeking reimbursement for travel expenses is expected to provide the proper documentation, BUT if such documentation is not presented the request is denied.
Is the school board implying that Mr. Porter used his authority and made someone pay these expenses?
Any violation of purchase procedures fall directly on the purchasing department. The state of Oklahoma has the “Purchasing Act”. This act requires that entities have a Certified Purchasing Officer (CPO), IT’S THE LAW. If these purchases were sent to the purchasing department any purchases that violated the act should have been denied, or is the school board implying that Mr. Porter, use his authority to strong arm this process?
The overall question is this; did Mr. Porter intentionally try to defraud the district, or was these discrepancies due to his lack of understanding of the Oklahoma reimbursement act as well as the purchasing act.
The lunching factor comes into play when a person is treated differently than another; I would be interested in seeing other travel reimbursements for the district.
Race should not be in this at all. Common sense tells us not to request reimbursement for fine dining and even if it were a "business" related meeting, I still wouldn't feel right asking for reimbursement. Can he not "meet" with folks at his office? At a school cafeteria? What about the airport club reimbursement request?? Hello! No, race should not be the issue here. Common sense and good ethics and business practices is the issue. I work for a school district for a school board and they seem to have followed common procedures. Again, like everyone else is asking "What are we teaching our kids??" Democrat vs Republican and Black vs White - no mater what????
Mr. Clytus - thank you. The story said your vote to suspend Dr. Porter drew "grasps from the crowd". So, apparently because he is black and you are black, you are suppose to support him no matter what; that apparently was what the crowd felt. Many people at the meeting were apparently trying to make this an issue of race with the singing of "We Shall Overcome" as if Dr. Porter was being discriminated against.
Clearly, there is a power struggle at work here. The list of allegations - and Porter's willingness to make his actual mistakes right - does not add up to the quality of problem that should get an "executive" school board chief fired. It is the kind of problem that only occurs to "minions" who are not toeing the company line. It would seem that Cliff Hudson and the good old boys and girls historically in charge of the school district cannot bear to have someone come in and try do it "his" way instead of theirs. Either Porter is right for the job, or he is not, but I'd advise him - and anyone else who would take it on, "don't beg these folks for anything... don't be made the scapegoat... and don't worry about it. Find a real job to spend your considerable talents on".
I certainly hope this man was not hired because he was an African American. He should not be fired because he is an African American nor should he be exempt from the law or ethics because of his race. Is this man a superintendent for our black community only? Are his supporters from this sector of our population alone? I hope not. Our community, our city, our children cannot afford for the adults in their lives to take one step forward and two steps back. This man, and any person who holds this position, man or female, caucasion, Africans American, American Indian, Hispanic, or any other ethnic group, must stand on his own merit and performance. He, like each of us, must be held accountable for his choices and his actions. Our children are watching and learning from our example right now. Are we working together for the good of all our children. Or, are we continuing to draw a line in the sand, and making the separations in our community more distinct and hurtful. It is up to us. The torch has been handed to our generation. Do we continue to act and react to each situation that presents itself with the "race" card or do we go beyond the color of skin and consider the choices and intent of the superindendent, weigh the pros and cons or allowing him to continue in his position and work together for the good of our children? They're watching.
I was appalled at the behavior of the audience in the Board Meeting yesterday. Mr. Porter drew a crowd to support him but he may have attracted the wrong crowd. I thought the behavior of the supporters made him look bad. He really should have stood up and told the crowd he appreciated the support but everyone needed to calm down and act civilized. My 10 year old son wanted to know what was going on with those people yelling during the board meeting. I explained that behavior such as that is not appropriate when trying to "overcome" something. My son then stated, "Mom, those people yelling sound like dark skinned people." I explained that not all dark skin people act in that behavior. There are white people who act inappropriately too. I am sadden to witness this type of behavior and it comes from our education system... What are we teaching our kids???
This is not a racial issue. It happens that many people in the OKC school district are black, that is all. This is more about east coast values vs Oklahoma "good old boy" values.
Each racial group seems to have their own ethical standards , look at the turmoil in black ruled Africa , especially here lately in once peaceful Kenya. I don't see how two groups people can look at same thing and draw such different conclusions. Look at incarceration rates per capita among racial groups. Look at black on white violence, if there was that much white on black violence the NAACP would be screaming about a resurgence of the KKK.
Having served on a school board for over 25 years; and president of a school board for 15 years; and after reading Mr Porters published letter, he has admitted to making mistakes. Contrasting with a Reading Co. is not a problem, because the school board would have to approve before the company could get paid; however, receipts to the school board for expenditures not related to school business is a problem.
If some personal receipts, by accident, were mixed with school business receipts, he ( the superintendent) should be able to explain that to the school board. After this year,he can say goodbye to his friend.
All allegations against Porter could easily have been a mistake. Even so not returning your bosses phone calls is a firing offense. If Porter is so dumb as to not return phone calls from those that hired him he has no business running a school district.
Why didn't the financial people pay only those expenses they should while kicking the rest back? There are those adminoistrators who thought they were going to inherit the kingdom and all the percs. It didn't happen that way, so they moved to have Porter removed so that they could take over and get those percs. There i9s more politics than educationj going on in the district. The classroom is no longer for the students but to provide certain levels a way of administration to make big money. Many of the district "experts" are actually incompetent and unless one of their own is in power the public will find that out. NCLB is a cash cow for those who knbow how to play, but it is useless if it is about students. Its all about test scores, money, and positions that make it. The classroom is ignored. When was the last time when talking about the students did any one ever talk to the teachers who teach them? They only talk about what gets them the big butts.
In reviewing the report, it appears that the Board approved the $365K contract on September 4th. So who is the real culprit--Porter or the Board?
The meal and travel expenditures in question span a period from July to October. If these submissions were inappropriate, why were reimbursement checks continually issued? If my employer had inadvertently reimbursed an employee for inappropriate expenditures, the employee would be required to repay the monies and the incident documented. There is no way that my employer would continually issue reimbursement checks over a three to four month period for business expenses that were not reimbursable per policy or past practice. Who is responsible for approving Porter's expense vouchers prior to reimbursement? I heard on the 10:00 p.m. news that Dr. Porter’s expense reimbursements did not require approval by anyone, since he did not have a supervisor. I certainly hope the reporter received some bum info. Conventional wisdom leads me to believe that the same entity that hired him and that suspended him with pay this a.m. should be responsible for approving his requests for expense reimbursements. Earlier today, one of the news reporters asked Chairman Hudson if this was the first time that a district employee submitted expenses of the nature detailed in the notice adopted this a.m. for reimbursement. His answer--it was the first time that it was brought to his attention. So who is the real culprit--Porter or the Board?
In the real world, executives--like Dr. Porter--routinely turn in all of their receipts that are incurred while performing their official duties. They are normally not responsible for completing their own expense reimbursement vouchers. Their assistant or another administrative employee prepares the expense reimbursement voucher, which is forwarded to another administrative employee for review (to determine if the expenses comply with the administrative unit's reimbursement policy). If there are expenses that do not comply, the voucher is returned with an explanation. The voucher is then resubmitted with the required changes and is forwarded to the appropriate person or administrative unit for approval. After a period of time, reimbursement is made. Reimbursement is not made without appropriate approval.
My administrative unit is responsible for reviewing expense vouchers for compliance and issuing reimbursement checks for my employer. We are currently a small organization, but it is not unusual for us to return one to two expense vouchers each week which contain expenses that are not reimbursable under our policy guidelines. The employee is advised which receipts are acceptable and instructed to resubmit the request for reimbursement. We also advise our employees that although certain expenses are not reimbursable under our policies, if they are truly "work related” and applicable under IRS regulations that the employee should submit with their tax return--either on schedule A or C.
My take: Witchhunt. Rather than sitting downtown expecting different results from the same failed policies and procedures, Dr. Porter was managing through walking around--out in the district: talking with students, parents, teachers, challenging administrators to excel for the sake of our children and the future of our city and state. And he went further than any superintendent that I can remember--he met with parents in community forums after hours and on weekends in their neighborhoods. Places with adequate parking and seating without the pressure of Roberts Rules of Order. Open forums, with open dialogue. All for the sake of our children--not for politicians and corporate powerbrokers. Dr. Porter ruffled some feathers—refused to be a rubber stamping YES man in an ivory tower—and now our children are paying for it.
What happened to being reprimanded? And you (Jason) sound just like the unruly mob you mention. Porter was ask in his interview, if he felt like any of this was race related, and his answer was, no. He can't be responsible for those few that were "unruly." This man was brought to do a dirty job, i.e. firings, etc., for "the school board", and when "the school board," found out that he would not be controlled, is capable of doing his job, and would not be the "puppet" expected, the "the school board" turned on him.
And, by the way this is not about him being a Black man, he was brought in by Mr. Hudson to do this job and he was the same Black man that needs to be allowed to do his job! In the 7 months that he has been here, he has made an impact on our school system and there are those that are pleased, black and white. Change brings about criticism.
Hey, what about Maples, how long did it take for them to investigate him? $32,000's later and a falsified application.........What about our children?? Does anybody care?
Sandra Park was superintendent in Blanchard for about four years before resigning in January 2007. She worked for the school district until her contract expired in June.
She could not be reached Monday for comment.
Park was hired by the Oklahoma City School District about three months ago as executive director for teaching and learning. She had been working at the University of Oklahoma's K20 Center for Education and Community Renewal before that, said her husband Mark Park, a principal in the Newcastle School District. She had applied for the superintendent's position when it was open, he said. Superintendent John Porter later hired her to lead the teaching and learning division.
Contributing: Jennifer Griswold
Statement from Cliff Hudson, Chairman, Oklahoma City... 01/05/2008 We are disheartened that Superintendent Porter continues to avoid talking to the Board. We have tried numerous times to meet and talk with him about these...
‘I am going to do my job' 01/06/2008 Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent John Porter won't be leaving the district anytime soon if he has his way, despite the fact that the school board...
Statement from Cliff Hudson, chairman of the... 01/06/2008 "We were pleased to learn at Superintendent Porter's press conference that he plans to sit down with the Board to discuss and review the findings of an...
Superintendent suspended with pay 01/07/2008 The Oklahoma City School Board voted this morning to suspend Superintendent John Porter with pay.
A previously confidential investigative report was...
Wrong man? Superintendent drama needs quick end 01/08/2008 O KLAHOMA City School Board members sure believed they had the right man for superintendent. John Q. Porter certainly thought he was the right man for the...
Superintendent Porter responds to the allegations 01/07/2008 Dear Friend:
Thank you for your support of the Oklahoma City Public Schools and of me as superintendent.
I am writing to give you specific...
Investigator, Porter address allegations 01/07/2008 There are 21 allegations against Oklahoma City Superintendent John Porter in the investigative report led by former U.S. Attorney Robert McCampbell....
Schools' chief targeted on spending, behavior... 01/08/2008 There are 21 allegations against Oklahoma City Superintendent John Porter in the investigative report led by former U.S. Attorney Robert McCampbell. Sixteen...
City board faces test 01/10/2008 The Oklahoma County district attorney's office is investigating whether the Oklahoma City School Board violated state law when it met Monday to suspend...
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Although there is NO connection with the sales tax (not bond issue) vote for the Ford Center and OKC schools (other than the MAPS for Kids tax will end and the Ford Center tax will begin), I am all for Ms. Darrell's oposition to the tax. Contary to what some articles and more than one person have posted, the Ford Center Tax is NOT an extension of the current tax. The Penny for MAPS for Kids ends at the end of this year. It goes away. If passed, the Ford Center tax will take its place. So, there is no extension, it is a tax INCREASE no matter what the Mayor and supporters want to say/try to spin it. Really wish everyone could keep their facts straight.
Given my 20 plus years of experience in the “State Reimbursement Act” any employee seeking reimbursement for travel expenses is expected to provide the proper documentation, BUT if such documentation is not presented the request is denied.
Is the school board implying that Mr. Porter used his authority and made someone pay these expenses?
Any violation of purchase procedures fall directly on the purchasing department. The state of Oklahoma has the “Purchasing Act”. This act requires that entities have a Certified Purchasing Officer (CPO), IT’S THE LAW. If these purchases were sent to the purchasing department any purchases that violated the act should have been denied, or is the school board implying that Mr. Porter, use his authority to strong arm this process?
The overall question is this; did Mr. Porter intentionally try to defraud the district, or was these discrepancies due to his lack of understanding of the Oklahoma reimbursement act as well as the purchasing act.
The lunching factor comes into play when a person is treated differently than another; I would be interested in seeing other travel reimbursements for the district.
If some personal receipts, by accident, were mixed with school business receipts, he ( the superintendent) should be able to explain that to the school board. After this year,he can say goodbye to his friend.
Credell Phillips
The meal and travel expenditures in question span a period from July to October. If these submissions were inappropriate, why were reimbursement checks continually issued? If my employer had inadvertently reimbursed an employee for inappropriate expenditures, the employee would be required to repay the monies and the incident documented. There is no way that my employer would continually issue reimbursement checks over a three to four month period for business expenses that were not reimbursable per policy or past practice. Who is responsible for approving Porter's expense vouchers prior to reimbursement? I heard on the 10:00 p.m. news that Dr. Porter’s expense reimbursements did not require approval by anyone, since he did not have a supervisor. I certainly hope the reporter received some bum info. Conventional wisdom leads me to believe that the same entity that hired him and that suspended him with pay this a.m. should be responsible for approving his requests for expense reimbursements. Earlier today, one of the news reporters asked Chairman Hudson if this was the first time that a district employee submitted expenses of the nature detailed in the notice adopted this a.m. for reimbursement. His answer--it was the first time that it was brought to his attention. So who is the real culprit--Porter or the Board?
In the real world, executives--like Dr. Porter--routinely turn in all of their receipts that are incurred while performing their official duties. They are normally not responsible for completing their own expense reimbursement vouchers. Their assistant or another administrative employee prepares the expense reimbursement voucher, which is forwarded to another administrative employee for review (to determine if the expenses comply with the administrative unit's reimbursement policy). If there are expenses that do not comply, the voucher is returned with an explanation. The voucher is then resubmitted with the required changes and is forwarded to the appropriate person or administrative unit for approval. After a period of time, reimbursement is made. Reimbursement is not made without appropriate approval.
My administrative unit is responsible for reviewing expense vouchers for compliance and issuing reimbursement checks for my employer. We are currently a small organization, but it is not unusual for us to return one to two expense vouchers each week which contain expenses that are not reimbursable under our policy guidelines. The employee is advised which receipts are acceptable and instructed to resubmit the request for reimbursement. We also advise our employees that although certain expenses are not reimbursable under our policies, if they are truly "work related” and applicable under IRS regulations that the employee should submit with their tax return--either on schedule A or C.
My take: Witchhunt. Rather than sitting downtown expecting different results from the same failed policies and procedures, Dr. Porter was managing through walking around--out in the district: talking with students, parents, teachers, challenging administrators to excel for the sake of our children and the future of our city and state. And he went further than any superintendent that I can remember--he met with parents in community forums after hours and on weekends in their neighborhoods. Places with adequate parking and seating without the pressure of Roberts Rules of Order. Open forums, with open dialogue. All for the sake of our children--not for politicians and corporate powerbrokers. Dr. Porter ruffled some feathers—refused to be a rubber stamping YES man in an ivory tower—and now our children are paying for it.
And, by the way this is not about him being a Black man, he was brought in by Mr. Hudson to do this job and he was the same Black man that needs to be allowed to do his job! In the 7 months that he has been here, he has made an impact on our school system and there are those that are pleased, black and white. Change brings about criticism.
Hey, what about Maples, how long did it take for them to investigate him? $32,000's later and a falsified application.........What about our children?? Does anybody care?