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District reviews booster recognition after police matter involving Clark PTO
Summary
Lake Central leaders reviewed booster-club recognition rules and proposed tighter documentation and internal controls after a preliminary police matter involving the Clark PTO; district said Clark’s paperwork was in order but internal controls were insufficient and the PD holds investigative details.
Superintendent Larry Verco told the board during a June 15 special work session that the district is reviewing its policy for recognizing booster and parent‑teacher organizations after a preliminary police matter involving the Clark PTO.
Verco said the district requires supportive organizations to file a letter of intent, bylaws, objectives and officer contact information, and to describe planned fundraising. “Their paperwork was tight. It was good. Um, they just didn't have enough internal controls for something to happen,” he said, adding that the district has not received police investigation records and that questions about the investigation should be directed to the police department.
The district does not audit booster finances, Verco said; booster groups maintain their own accounts and provide periodic financial reports. He proposed several administrative adjustments intended to reduce risk: moving the annual submission deadline from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 to align with school calendars, requiring annual proof of bonding for treasurers even if the treasurer remains the same, nudging principals to follow up when booster paperwork is missing, and offering a template for recommended internal controls.
Board members pressed for clarity about how donations show up in board materials and how subaccounts are monitored. District staff said large donations that create district‑owned equipment (for example, a playground or building equipment) are routed to the board so ownership and insurance are clear; team and activity subaccounts (camp fees, team fundraisers, concession receipts) are typically maintained and reported at the school level by principals and tracked by the business office for larger groups.
On checks and signatures, the board discussed current building-level controls and the role of district bookkeeping. Verco said the district will not assume day‑to‑day monitoring of booster accounting — doing so would require extensive bookkeeping capacity — but will seek to tighten required documentation and offer tools to improve internal controls.
The board did not propose formal sanctions at the meeting; members emphasized supporting volunteers while ensuring safeguards that protect student funds and district liability.
