Frazier school reports belie board members’ charges
PERRYOPOLIS – Two Frazier School Board members, one of them the president, have alleged that the superintendent spent more than $7,000 for office supplies and equipment within the last several months, while copies of purchase orders appear to show otherwise. Kathy Burkholder and board president John H. Lowery III criticized superintendent Dr. Frederick Smeigh at November’s meeting for the expenditures that appeared on an itemized copy of the district’s bills due and payable for September and October.
According to Lowery, the purchases for October that were billed to Smeigh’s office included $366 for office supplies, $1,835 for office chairs and a receptionist chair, $2,268 for board room tables and $785 for stackable chairs used in the Middle School classrooms.
Lowery further alleged that September’s purchases included $610 for an oak door; $1,419 for an oak table, pedestal and base; $856 for a wingback chair; and $321 for books that were used by the teachers for staff development.
Although the expenses total $8,460, the $3,374 spent for board room tables, stackable chairs and books were not used by Smeigh, but billed under office supplies and equipment for the superintendent’s office that are not part of the cost associated with operating the office.
Smeigh said those items have always been coded under his office in the past because they are used by the entire administrative staff.
Copies of invoices provided by business managerTom Shetterly revealed that $1,835 was spent for seven office chairs (discounted from $2,639), while $1,419 was spent for an oak table and mobile file. In addition, another $590 was spent to replace a computer monitor that Smeigh said he was not able to use because it turned blank.
Aside from the chairs, table and computer monitor, Smeigh said the oak door was purchased when he was informed by his secretary and board vice president Bill Vargo that conversations in his office could be heard from the conference table that was located next to the original hollow metal door. “I discuss many confidential issues with staff and/or parents at this table,” said Smeigh.
Smeigh said he initially submitted a request to Shetterly for a new door last December.
Since Smeigh does not have a separate conference room to conduct meetings, the chairs and the oak table were placed in his office while the original table was moved to Shetterly’s office.
As in past procedure, the business manager serves as the purchasing agent for the district. The position is also responsible for coding the purchase orders from each office and developing a list of bills paid or to be paid.
Shetterly said although a number of items have been charged to the superintendent’s office, they are not included in the cost of operating that office. Shetterly added that items that were coded in error to Smeigh’s office totaled $4,892, with $3,795 just for toner for the color printer.
Other items included $427 for chairs for the board secretary, $299 for a color printer fuser, $95 for ink, $151 for toner, $38 for magnetic door pockets and $85 for staff-development supplies.
In addition, Shetterly noted another $409 was incorrectly coded for staff-development books and $95 for membership dues to the National Council of Teachers in Mathematics.
Burkholder said while the board agreed to several purchases that weren’t budgeted in the past at Smeigh’s recommendation, he is now asking board members to watch what is being spent. “He’s telling us to watch it, and he’s spending money on things that aren’t necessary,” added Burkholder.
During his tenure at Frazier, Smeigh said he has aided the district in garnering an extensive fund balance with the most money ever spent on supplies, materials, textbooks and other items for the staff and administration. “We did not reach our current level of academic achievement without investing in purchasing educational-research items,” said Smeigh.
Smeigh’s purchases came under attack by the two following a heated debate among several board members concerning pending litigation involving a Pittsburgh architect that the board has interviewed for an $8.7 million renovation project to Central and Perry elementary schools.
According to Smeigh, this was the first office furniture purchase he has made in the 12 years that he has been superintendent.
Although Smeigh’s items were budgeted, a trip to the national school boards conference this year in New Orleans attended by Lowery, John Sterdis, John Keffer and David Simmons cost $8,000 that was paid for out of the general fund and no budgeted funds were allocated for the trip.
Burkholder further alleged that prior requests for the district to purchase carpeting for the elementary schools fell on deaf ears, while Smeigh spent $600 for an oak office door that was unnecessary. “It’s (the carpet) been held together by duct tape,” said Burkholder.
Burkholder made a motion to purchase the carpet that was unanimously approved by the board.
During public comment from former board member Debbie Tidholm it was learned that although carpeting is needed, it would have to be torn out during renovations.