A state audit revealed Thursday that the leaders of Riverview Gardens schools have cheated the district out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. They’ve sent contracts and jobs to friends and family, spent money on artwork and theater tickets and travel, and left district bank reserves almost entirely empty.
The board announced that it had stripped Superintendent Henry Williams of his duties, sent him home and started the process to fire him. His hearing will be April 18.
Missouri Auditor Susan Montee said her team found problems in every aspect of district finances.
“What astounded us was how fast they misspent money, rather than how much,” Montee said. “We found that so disheartening.”
A copy of the 57-page report that was released yesterday (Thursday), was given to St. Louis County prosecutors.
The audit team found that Riverview Gardens has overpaid Superintendent Williams by nearly $160,000. The district spent $865,780 in a two-year period for travel and conferences.
Board members and staff charged $240,000 on the district credit card for which the auditors found few receipts. District employees and officials took cash advances before trips but did not account for the money, nor turn in the change. Some employees and officials hired their relatives.
Williams spent more than $1,100 in district money on theater seats.
The district has disintegrated since hiring Williams at the start of the 2002-03 school year.
The audit hinted Williams may face tax trouble: “Untaxed contributions to the superintendent’s tax sheltered annuities appear to exceed limits established by the IRS,” the audit summary states.
Board President Gilda Hester told the public how the district was fixing problems.
Her next step was to announce new leadership — an interim joint superintendency of two current administrators, Rhonda Key and Natalie Thomas. The audience loudly applauded the announcement.