by Karen Kasler
The state auditor has harsh words for the Cleveland schools in an audit over the district’s failure to cash in one millions in technology rebates.
Auditor Dave Yost reviewed the Cleveland school district’s records after it lost on $8.4 million in federal rebates it had already qualified for but lost out on for missing deadlines to apply. Yost says a combination of weak policy and bad communication led to a breakdown in the process.
“At the end of the day, this is not a criminal problem, it’s a stupidity problem,” says Yost.
Yost’s audit reached the same conclusion that the district’s watchdog panel came up with – that the mistakes were made by employees and a consultant before CEO Eric Gordon came on board in 2011.