In case you all didn't know, superintendents don't send their reimbursement receipts to the finance dept. Those that work for them handle those duties. I've worked in five diff. school dist. across the country and the CEO very, very, rarely handles things of this nature. Furthermore, Boren doesn't have a doctorate, but he's the Pres. of OU, so whether or not he is licensed is irrelevant. He can do the job, so let him do it.

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.

Oh, they will be here. Just give them time. Also, I meant to say in my previous comment "Maybe the person who approved these expenditures (if they were approved) is one of the employees whose pay scale was raised WITHOUT (not with) authorization from the school board." Sorry

heck i just figured they would send jesse and al and the rest of the local naacp dumb butts here...

With his salary, one would assume he could pay his own plane fare if he is attending personal business. If he didn't take annual leave to take care of his personal business, how was he able to leave his position. Also, we didn't hire his wife so why are we paying her plane fare. Maybe the person who approved these expenditures is one of the employees whose pay scale was raised with authorization from the school board. And, yes, he has rubbed some people the wrong way, and one of those people is me. It doesn't say in the news release that he was actually reimbursed for questionable expenses. It states that he was called to task for "Seeking Reimbursement" and "Requesting Reimbursement." The man is a fraud and a thief and we have enough of those already; we don't need another one in the Great State of Oklahoma.

Humm, I think the IRS should look at his tax returns. I think the salary for the job alone is too high. The position he holds (or did hold) has many perks already. This kinda crap just pisses me off. Stealing money from the schools so he can party and get drunk. Who the hell does he think he is!

Oh, oh pick me pick me!!!....my favorite one is where he asks for $240 for parking garage fees at Reagan national airport, but also submitted receipts for restaurants in OKC for the same exact time, as well as airline receipts for flying to OKC the day before he parked at Reagan. And I want to know why he needs $2000 for flying first class to Washington DC (where he lives? How does he run a school district in OK?) while his wife flies coach. Nice.....

Sending email to educator from Oklahoma.

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 they were inappropriate, why were they allowed to continue? If I had an employee submitting inappropriate expenditures, they might be approved and paid one time but certainly not repeatedly over a three to four month period. It has been my experience that 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 assistants 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 units 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. Reimbursment is not made without appropriate approval. Who is responsible for approving Porter's expense reimbursements prior to reimbursement? My administrative unit is responsible for reviewing expense vouchers for compliance and issuing reimbursement checks. 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. Earlier today, one of the news reporters asked Chairman Hudson if this was the first time that a district employee submitted for reimbursement expenses of the nature detailed in the notice adopted this a.m. His answer--it was the first time that it was brought to his attention. 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 powerbrokers.

Becky, alcohol is quite commonly consumed in business transactions whether it is right or wrong - He may have been purchasing alcohol for the people he was eating with at a business function. Would this be acceptable or not? Maybe he is meeting with politicians or members in the eduction department in DC to negotiate better contracts for OKC? There is another side to the story. The fact is there should have been a policy in place describing what is acceptable, and there should be someone responsible for making sure it is being followed. The superintendent was not writing checks to himself!

Thank you Neal! I could not agree more!

The contract in question was approved according to the board itself. There was no LAW broken - give me a break with calling the police. The qestion is did he follow policy - were there other companies offering the same service or product. We have all heard this same song and dance before only it was with Bush and Haliburton! Maybe the new superintendent thouht he had a little authority to use on his own - maybe the board gave him some room to fix the plethora of problems at OKC? Maybe he took it too far. Shouldn't he have been corrected / redirected by the board in person and or in private rather than printing it in the local newspaper? Why would they not give a new employee the benefit of the doubt? If he did not have the authority to purchase - he should have cancelled the contract and re-opened it up for bid. It doesn't seem that he would have done this time after time since he is relatively new to the district. This is not criminal - and there is another side to the story. He did not falsify anything that I read in the report. Name one thing that was falsified! The receipts being paid that did not have itemized breakdowns is not the fault of the superintendent. What is the policy of OKC? Did those reimbursing him follow the procedure. He simply turned the receipts in to be processed. I agree an audit should be performed and made public of what is and what is not an allowed expense. It sounds like a lot of gray area to me. OKC is not a company, but they do have the right to terminate an employee. They better have good reason because the employees have the right to sue for wrongful termination, and it will cost the taxpayers! If it is a personal problem between the board and the superintendent, and the board chose to put taxpayer's money in jeapordy due to a lawsuit - the board has to go. If the board is correct in its action then I will be very relieved, but it will be extremely hard to find a qualified replacement after the handling of this situation - that was not professional - which leads me to believe that it is personal.

The only racist is the one playing the race card.

I just saw a little "bite" about this for the upcoming newscast and some Afro_american lady was proclaiming racism on this. Somebody please backhand the next person that pulls out the race card on this. The man who hired Porter was white and saw Porter as the best candidate for the job. it was his first phone call...now all of the sudden it's a race issue? Does this get anyone else fired up? or is it just me? You mess up, you suffer consequences. What on Earth does that have to do with what color you are? I'm just so tired of the same 'ol pity party!

Wendi and Margaret, you've got me thinking about the movie "Stand By Me" now also. What a great movie about four young boys who set out on an adventure to find the body of a missing teenager. I'm not exactly sure how you found any relevance between the superintendant of OKC schools misusing school funds and using district funds for personal benefit and the movie “Stand By Me”. Are you sure that you didn’t mean “Lean On Me”? Classic example of someone not having their facts straight before opening their mouth.

He does not sound at all professional & actually falsifying your expense accounts is called fraud. But yes, an employer can terminate for violating company policy. In Porter's case, it does not sound like he is acting the way a school superintendant should act. He is an embarrassment to the district & should be terminated. The police need to look at his actions as well.

What law did he break? Obtaining a contract without competitive bidding. "Did anyone ever tell him no?" Come on, he's an adult with two law degrees, not an eight year old.

Last time I checked, one can still have employment terminated for violating company policy whether or not it breaks state law.

What law did he break? He does not Oklahoma state law - he lived here 6 months, and according to his expenses a portion of that time he wasn't here either. OKC needs change to better their school system, only the powers to be don't want change when it comes to upsetting their entrenched friends and families getting big paychecks for doing squat. Getting awarded contracts for being a "team player". I agree that some of his expenses seemed excessive, but did anyone ever tell him NO, or deny any expenses. For all we know this is business as usual, since these expenses were approved without question only to be listed in the newspaper against him after 6 months. All I am saying is there are two sides to this story, and it would be nice to hear him defend these allegations, and why it wasn't settled before being printed in the paper. I don't think the current school board can move forward without a major overhaul including some new faces, and knew procedures that illustrates to the public what their tax money is paying for on a regular basis.

AMEN Sandy! Can I get a hallelujah?

Thats just great. I'm from Blanchard and Sandra Park was the worst Superintendent. Rude,Mico-manager,Big,Big spender. What were they thinking in this appointment. Blanchard could not even pass a bond while she was there.

Lawrence, I beg your pardon but it was Mr. Porter who first went to the media so he had the ammunition that caused the 'land blast' in the newspaper. And even without guidance from my employer, my common sense tells me to deduct the charges for alcoholic beverages from the amount I am submitting for reimbursement!!

Are you kidding me. He's got more degrees than most people. He knew exactly what he was doing, and wrong is still wrong! Right???

The man has two law degrees! He should have had a better understanding of policies, procedures, and state law. You could erase all the personell allegations and he should still lose his job for sheer ignorance.

The man has two law degrees! He should have had a better understanding of policies, procedures, and state law. You could erase all the personell allegations and he should still lose his job for sheer ignorance.

I think if the superintendent goes so does the entire school board for lack of institutional control. You paid thousands to hire athe guy - didn't explain his duties, his boundaries, or what expenses he is eligible to take. Then you land blast him in the newspaper. I think the board spent more time trying to get rid of him then they ever did trying to get him to fit in to the system. Good luck trying to bring in someone else. He obviously had a large task in front of him, but was given no authority, guidance, or help to do his job. He was "set up to fail". Why, because he upset someone along the way - he must have stepped on some toes. Such as, "Negative relationships with multiple principals", "Failure to follow policies and directions from the school board, and failure to communicate adequately with the board", "Entering the district into a $365,600 contract without going through the process of competitive bidding", "Raising some employees' pay scale without authorization from the school board". He called out the people not doing their jobs, and rewarded the ones that were, but unfortunately the ones that were not doing their jobs satisfactory were friends or family to members on the board! This is the exact reason teacher pay CAN NOT be based on performance because what one person thinks is good performance is opposite someone elses view, and it usually has NOTHING to do with their performance, but with who they eat dinner. As far as the fiscal items - he said he turned receipts in to have them go over what was to be reimbursed and what was not. Usually when you have drinks with dinner the alcohol and food purchase are on the same receipt. If he flies somewhere on school business he should be allowed to be reimbured. If he flies 1st class obviously the school shouldn't pay for the excess ticket price, but wouldn't he have to turn in the receipt anyway to prove the expense, and then the school could prorate the price to a normal seat on the plane? These excuses are very immature from the school board, and this will likely turn into an expensive lawsuit with the families and children of OKC being the losers, not the school board members that have nothing to lose, but their non-paid position.

Well said, Becky. I am embarrassed for those who were disruptive this morning. The report shows an obvious pattern of wrong doing. If Porter didn't realize he was wrong, then he has no business being the superintendent of any school district.

All boards in Oklahoma do not get paid. Only board members in Tulsa and Oklahoma receive compensation.

Bottom line is Porter broke the rules and there are consequences to pay just like when our children break the rules. The audience of the meeting this morning were making themselves look and sound like uneducated fools and if I were Porter I would tell them thanks but no thanks. I'm sure he has a great vision for the schools but rules are rules. If he had truly done no wrong, why wouldn't he speak to the board when they made attempts??

Thanks for the link. I was unaware of that. Most school boards in the state are uncompensated. I can't see why OKCPS pays board members at all. It's a token amount of compensation, not enough to be of any value to the recipient. And it creates an unnecessary entanglement.

Rick...School Boarb members do get paid. For their service, Board members receive $25 per meeting, not to exceed $100 per month. Granted, that's not much, but I have a feeling they get reimbursed for certain expenses. But hey, when you are the CEO of Sonic, what's $100.00? http://www.okcps.org/boe/index.htm

Since Hudson is the Chairman and HE is the one leading the charge against POrter, then he can pay out of his vast deep pockets. I am sick to death of footing the bill for these DISHONEST jerks!!

Fox caught in the hen house. Also, look at the person who approved payment.

School boards receive no pay. I like the idea though, Sharyn.

Does this fella own Henry Hudson's Sports Bar and Grill?

If the board does go ahead and fire this man...the next nationwide search should come directly from THEIR pay. If he was such a distrustful person, why did they hire him to begin with? I refuse to believe he came to Oklahoma and suddenly became dishonest about his personal expenditures and reimbursements. Seems like they should have done some more digging before they hired this man. What a WASTE of taxpayer money!!

Jerry in Oklahoma City, good one. I liked Sonic better when all the car-hops were on roller skates.

LOL Jerry! Ya meaning Tot's For Education?

I love Sonic's tots!

Hudson was named chief executive officer (CEO) and president of SONIC Corp. in April 1995 and became chairman of the board in January 2000. Previously, he served the company in a variety of capacities, including general counsel, chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Hudson has been affiliated with many non-profit and community activities. He served as chairman of the board of directors of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), a presidential appointment, from 1994 - 2001. He now serves as Chairman of the Oklahoma City School Board, a position created in 2000 as part of a $530 million turnaround of a 40,000 student, inner city Oklahoma City Public School system. http://www.sonicdrivein.com/business/profile/jCliffordHudson.jsp

Mistake,Mistake this is not what Oklahoma invisioned when you ask for more BOND MONEY why didn't you make this decision then.This is not the time to display disfunctional board! I believe Dr.Porter rubbed some of the people wrong and it had nothing to do with black/white it's the same people who do not understand what quality education should look like. If Oklahoma want to compete with other cities to enhance quality of life, bring Profesional venue to the state then I suggest rethink your decision. Look at the problems Seatle Public school are having talk to the low morale of those people. This type of behavior is cancerous and it needs real leadership to address real problems for our STUDENTS. The mayor and leaders of both parties better take a hard look at the VISION for Oklahoma! This sounds like some immature students very childish.... Send them to IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION and let real leaders LEAD! Clay Bennett cool the heals of that Board and you know were to start!

Thanks for the clarification. There are still differences between rules for publicly traded corporations and rules for public bodies. If the district were to allow the superintendent all the charges for which he submitted reimbursement, it would have had to have been stipulated in his contract. It wasn't. Additionally, any of those reimbursements that exceeded the IRS allowable per diem for travel expenses would have constituted a taxable benefit, in the amount of the excess. Any meal reimbursement for an employee who is not in overnight travel status is entirely a taxable benefit. Again, thanks for the clarification.

Hey Porter supporters, read the first 8 pages of the report and if you still support him to be Superintendent then you have major problems. It is obvious he is not an honest man. He broke state law and stole from the OKC school system. If he doesn't resign, the DA needs to get involved with this criminal!

Uh, Cliff Hudson is Chief Executive for Sonic? Is this for real? I am going to check this out. Now what was it I was going to say...Is this why the Public Schools have "Sonic Night," and the reason why Sonic advertises in Public School publications. Would this fall under the category of Conflict of Interest? I smell a BIGGER RAT in the room.

Wrong, Rick. Sonic is PUBLIC company. Also, it doesn't matter if a company is private or public, or it's a public school... it's what in the contract

The difference with Sonic is that they are a private company. Executives there have different rules to follow.

I wonder if Sonic, which Cliff Hudson is chief executive, has ever bent the rules for its leadership team. I wonder if Hudson ever sought for reimbursement when he wasn't authorized.

It amazes me that the board can take this action so swiftly aginst this man, yet there are Principals still in the employ of the district that have boken these rules for years. I agree that he(Porter) appears to have rubbed some people the wrong way. It also appears that he is a bit loose with the rules as he interprets them for his own use. I challenge the board to police the other adminstrators in the district with the same zeal. Maybe then OKPCS can move into the 21st century and become a district that inspires pride not shame.

If the reimbursements Porter is asking for shouldn't have been paid, why did a district employee approve the reimbursements. That person should be looked at. Porter filed paperwork for reimbursement. It's not as if he stole the money. Someone else made the reimbursement approval. Who was it?

Ron...excellent post! As to his meeting the many different power brokers of Oklahoma City, some of which were probably members of the District Schoolboard, I suppose they didn't consume any alcoholic beverages on the tab Dr. Porter was picking up?

I think its pretty plain he basically rubbed the wrong folks the wrong way both in style and substance. The accusation of reckless spending is just the main vehicle to head him toward the door. The folks on the board court, vette (supposedly), and hire this guy at $225K a year plus car allowance, expenses, etc. and treat him like a high level CEO (which he really is) on paper (read his contract). Then they seem to take the approach that he is some kind of wild playboy on a spending jag. A LOT of those charges (see the "investigative report")were large expenditures for catering, etc. as he was settling in and getting to know the civic players in the community, etc. Granted he may have nicked a little close on a few what many folks would consider "personal" choices but this isnt the school custodian here out on some booze and bimbo spree with a purloined district credit card. My guess is he rubbed somebody wrong with his personality, which I understand is forthright and strong came across as too brash and too full of instant change for the entrenched folks at the district. Then someone close to the financial part of it starting handing stones and innuendo to the detractors who then report it all out of a "sense of duty". The board, which is for the most part full of principled folks, maybe a secret detractor or more likely an apathetic individual or two thrown in for good measure, is then corralled into having to confront the issue. Cliff Hudson, being a good steward of the public purse and a good CEO in his own right has to do something. Its a no win deal when you've been undermined from within and before you know it you are presented on the table with an apple in your mouth. I've spent many years in the military and both public and private entities and have seen several highly placed and otherwise credible individuals brought down by a thousand little nats in a swarm. Some fell from their own arrogance of confidence or lack of "sensitivity", some from the machinations of the secret backstabbers that inhabit bureaucratic organizations but fell they did. He didnt stand a chance once he said the word "change".

I just read the "reports" and I still want to know who approved and processed the requests for reimbursements?

The entire OKC Public School system is a joke. They've always pointed the finger at anyone but themselves, everyone from board members to principals to superintendents. You people that live in the OKC school district should do something so your property values will go up.

The NAACP has absolutely nothing to do with this, and should not even be considered racist at any level. Have you seen the "ethnic" makeup of the schoolboard?

What does the NAACP have to do with this? This man is running around spending money and being reimbursed for items that he should not be. That is called fraud.

I don't see anything wrong on what the School Board has done. I know several OKC school teachers that have not had a decent raise in years and now you have a superintendent that thinks he can spend money anyway he wants without any checks and balances. It sounds like wasting money to me. How about I turn in some receipts for gasoline also. I wouldn't mind someone else paying for my gas.

the NAACP should march on the school board office

It looks like the OKC school board didn't do their homework when they selected Porter as the district's superintendent.

Anyone who actually reads the report with all the allegations and documentation should question whether Porter's actions have been above board. That being said, the board is not blameless.

vicki, moore...maybe you should hire him and let him do the same to you. in my opinion, i think he is the type of person that will try and get by with anything he can.

vicki...I believe you are absolutely correct, and that someone is probably Hudson.

Vicki...I disagree with you. I think the allegations mentioned above are serious. What he is accused of doing (fiscally) is unethical and illegal.

It is just my opinion but all this looks pretty remedial to me.. Someone wants him out of office.. and they are grasping at anything and everything they can..