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Speakers press Suffolk schools for forensic audit and FOIA transparency; athletic and nutrition controls questioned
Summary
Public commenters at the May 22 Suffolk Public School Board meeting urged an independent forensic audit and fixes to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processes, citing purchasing‑card oversight, athletic department fundraising concerns and nutrition program accountability.
Several community members used the public‑comment period at the Suffolk Public School Board meeting on May 22 to call for greater financial transparency, an independent forensic audit and improvements to the division’s FOIA process.
Travis McKinney recounted a recent FOIA request that, he said, encountered inconsistent routing and delayed response; he told the board he had taken the exchange to the FOIA Council and planned to submit a fuller package of documentation in July. McKinney asked the board to ensure staff understand the required FOIA intake and routing procedures.
Elizabeth Morningstar urged a forensic audit focused on three areas: overall school‑division governance and oversight; athletic‑department financial controls (she raised concerns of missing funds tied to Lakeland High School concessions and fundraisers); and school‑nutrition program governance. Morningstar said the division currently has more than 60 purchasing cards in circulation with limited monthly oversight and outlined standard controls the division could adopt, such as preauthorization protocols, receipts and random internal reviews.
Speakers also voiced strong support for bonuses for essential support personnel — including bus drivers, aides, custodians and cafeteria staff — and described operational strains such as multiple daily bus runs and difficult routes. Sandra Wright, speaking on behalf of bus drivers and aides, told the board drivers often do double or triple runs, manage student behavior on crowded routes and lack air conditioning on some buses.
Board members acknowledged the remarks and asked staff to respond. Superintendent Gordon and finance staff said the division applies for grants when available, tracks encumbrances and will report back with audits of purchasing‑card usage and recommended controls. The board agreed there is public interest in a deeper review; some members said they had campaigned on promises to support a forensic audit and asked staff to outline options for an independent review.
No formal audit was authorized at the meeting; speakers asked the board to act on requested reviews and to provide timely responses to FOIA process concerns.
