Harry Trujllo

07/04/06 Thousands of Questionable DISD Purchases

It appears the Dallas ISD is no longer a public school system interested in the education of children ? it is the pocket-chamber of educators and staff members making wrong decisions in the misuse of credit card and credit management. DISD senior administrative employees have demonstrate once again they are irresponsible stewards of taxpayers' money.

No one is getting educated with the misuse of $42,000,000 dollars in uncontrolled credit card use by school administrators and policy makers. DISD could use more than a new credit card policy.

A new office of the treasury should be created. This office must both determine and manage DISD credit and cash management. In order to utilize properly utilize credit, this treasury department should be responsible to the DISD School board for determining the type and amount of various forms of credit that will be used. A good treasury department would successfully ensure the management of employee-held credit cards.

The lack of proper monitoring of transactions, indeed identifies a lack of checks and balances by DISD administration and finance departments.

To protect DISD from possible fraud, internal guidelines with a separation of responsibilities in handling the use of credit cards should be established immediately. Each transaction should go through at least five steps:

1. authorization

2. initiation

3. approval

4. execution

5. recording

Harry Trujillo, Parent/ Dallas ISD Community Education Activist