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Board ratifies supplemental school-investigation report and authorizes $10,000 FOIA settlement
Summary
Board ratified a supplemental investigative report clarifying questions about school fund transactions and donor accounting; supervisors also authorized a $10,000 settlement resolving FOIA litigation with the school division and ratified public release of the supplement.
County legal counsel presented a supplement to the external investigation of Southampton County Public Schools that addressed specific questions in the initial report, including additional information about transactions labeled in records as 'Ryan Lupton/Wells Fargo.' Counsel said Mr. Lupton contacted investigators and explained those transactions were charitable gifts (including an employer match) intended for Southampton High School with later use for resurfacing tennis courts, books and computers.
Counsel recommended posting the supplement publicly; staff confirmed the document is available on the county website. The board voted to ratify the supplement and its public release.
Separately, the board authorized the county administrator to sign a settlement and release resolving FOIA litigation between the county and the school division. Counsel said the agreement would result in a $10,000 payment to the county and the school division’s agreement not to appeal a prior order in which the county prevailed. The board approved the settlement motion.
Supporters of additional oversight spoke during public comment: Jane Riddick Fries and other residents urged a forensic audit by the commonwealth’s attorney and state police and urged stronger accountability for misuse of grant funds. Mandy Hall and others emphasized that many investigative findings originated from current and former school employees.
Next steps: the supplement has been posted; staff and counsel will proceed with settlement execution as authorized; residents who asked for further forensic review may press the county and commonwealth’s attorney to consider additional investigatory steps.
