Members of the Fayette County School Board are weighing in on the findings released yesterday by State Auditor Adam Edelen.
The reactions of Fayette County Board of Education Members are mixed on support for Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Shelton in light of the auditors findings of chronic mismanagement of funds but no criminal wrongdoing by administrators. Doug Barnett was very vocal about his disappointment and said Shelton failed miserably “I’m very angry and to be quite honest with you if we elected, I would probably at this point not vote to renew his contract when it expires in June of 2013.” John Price, Chairman of the Board however is standing behind Shelton. “I think he is the first person to get us close to where we really need to be, so I think he’s definitely moving us in the right direction. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t challenges.”
Price also slammed those around Shelton who were in charge of the numbers. “Should a Superintendent who’se paying someone $100,000 plus receive a report and have to get out a calculator and check the math on that report? I don’t think a Superintendent should have to do that.” Barnett countered that Shelton was a CPA and should have caught those mistakes.
The school district has been given 60 days to submit a plan to the State Auditor’s Office showing how they will correct the problems uncovered during their investigation.