Last week State Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake, renewed his call on Governor Matt Blunt to authorize an audit of the records of the Riverview Gardens School District. “I have been receiving calls since January 2005 from parents, students and teachers on the accountability of the Riverview Gardens School District,” said Green.
Last April 27, several hundred students walked out of class to protest the firing of the Riverview Gardens Senior High School principal. Two state representatives joined Green in a written request in May 2005 calling on Blunt to authorize an audit. This request was declined. Green continues to receive calls from concerned parents and teachers about the situation and the flow of experienced educators leaving the district.
Recent developments regarding the questionable accountability of the district have prompted this renewed request. The St. Louis County prosecutor’s office has reportedly confiscated district records and is investigating federal funds the district received for computer technology. Investigators are also looking into allegations of kickbacks and nepotism.
During this legislative session, Green offered an amendment allowing the state auditor to audit school districts without a petition, but it was removed in the conference committee on the school foundation formula bill which passed last year.