Phila. School District may have mispent $140 million

The School District of Philadelphia is going to have to justify millions in spending now being questioned by the federal government.
A U.S. Department of Education audit reveals that the school district did not properly document nearly $140 million in federal grant money.

The School District of Philadelphia is going to have to justify millions in spending now being questioned by the federal government. [audio:100121TMSCHOOL.mp3]

A U.S. Department of Education audit reveals that the school district did not properly document nearly $140 million in federal grant money.  The audit is calling for the district to repay 17 million dollars and provide documentation to justify 121 million dollars in spending or return that money also.  Michael Masch is the district’s Chief Business Officer.  He says the spending – that occurred in 2005 and 2006 – was done under a former administration.

Masch: dealing with our present challenges is bad enough let alone having to deal with all the things that have transpired in the past.  All I can say is that the direction we are going in now is positive and responsible.

Masch says the district is hoping the federal government won’t take funding away, especially at a time when they are seeing student improvement.