Topline: In 2008, a school district in Cleburne, Texas used $367,000 in federal funds — about $536,000 in today’s money — to buy an inflatable alligator, an “under-the-sea water slide” and more.
That’s according to the “Wastebook” reporting published by the late U.S. Senator Dr. Tom Coburn. For years, these reports shined a white-hot spotlight on federal frauds and taxpayer abuses.
Coburn, the late U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, earned the nickname "Dr. No" by stopping thousands of pork-barrel projects using the Senate rules. Projects that he couldn't stop, Coburn included in his oversight reports. Coburn's Wastebook 2008 included 65 examples of outrageous spending worth more than $1.3 billion, including the $367,000 wasted funds from Cleburne schools.
Key facts: Auditors first became suspicious when Cleburne officials could not provide lesson plans that explained how the alligator and water slide “supported reading instruction,” as their budget claimed.
Frivolous purchases also included a $908 steakhouse dinner, a $5,000 trip to Mexico and a $14,000 trip to Colorado, according to a news report from the time. Auditors also found checks of up to $10,000 that were paid to vendors without any corresponding invoice or receipt. The $367,000 in wasted money represented 44% of Cleburne schools’ federal funding from 2008.
Background: Spending at Cleburne has only increased since 2008. The school district’s payroll has risen from $41 million to $54 million during the period 2017-2022, according to spending records analyzed by OpenTheBooks. The district also paid over $22 million to outside vendors in 2022.
Critical quote: Harold Gentry — a member of Access Cleburne, the watchdog group that initiated the 2008 audit — had some fiery words for the school district.
“Central office administrators have put in jeopardy the future of our children’s education by their irresponsible misuse of federal funds and have attempted to deceive the public at every turn,” Gentry said. “The superintendent was responsible, but not entirely responsible. Any central office administrator who is clearly involved needs to be terminated and board members who are also responsible for approving this misuse need to resign.”
Summary: No, inflatable alligators don’t help kids learn to read. Apparently it cost $367,000 for Cleburne to learn that the hard way.
The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com
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