Liberty Schools Criticized Over Credit Cards

There is a credit card controversy in the Liberty School District.

Top administrators allegedly spent thousands of dollars with little or no documentation, an accountant said.

The case involves credit card purchases by four district administrators, including the former and current superintendents.

The issue is unfolding just days before an important school bond vote in Liberty.

"I was really surprised to see what was provided," said William Walker, an accountant and Liberty parent.

Walker said that by requesting documents from the school district, he uncovered tens of thousands of dollars in undocumented purchases by top administrators.

"I think you can see a pretty clear picture of a pattern that just didn't start recently, but has been going on for several years," Walker told KMBC's Jere Gish.

Walker said one trip to California for a conference stood out. A credit card statement for former superintendent Scott Taveau showed a $200 charge at the Ferry Wine plaza bar in San Francisco.

"As far as I know, that establishment only serves wine," Walker said.

He said there were also several expensive meals -- one cost $729 and the other was more than $1,000.

"There are no receipts. No supporting documentation. No description of who was at those meals," Walker said.

The Liberty School Board is now taking action in response to what Walker found. First, school board members said there will be receipts in the future.

"We had some policies in place that should have required those, yes. We need to strengthen those to make sure they are enforced," School Board President Bob Young said.

Young also said that alcohol should not have been purchased.

"That is one those things that should be prohibited, and there shouldn't ever be a question of that type of purchase," Young said.

The school board said there are also new policies that restrict spending on meals and lodging.

Current superintendent Phil Wright is one of the four administrators who made credit card purchases without turning in receipts. Recently, he sent out a message saying he is not immune from blame in the issue and he apologized for what happened.

A vote on a school bond issue is Tuesday.

Young said the credit card purchases are a separate issue from the school bond.

"These are two separate issues. With the bond issue, that's really something we have to have for the district," Young said.

The Liberty School Board has hired a private auditing firm to look at the issue, but Walker wants a state auditor involved. He is working on getting signatures on a petition that would force the district to bring in that state auditor.

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