School officials in Prince George’s County violated district procedures or state laws in awarding contracts of more than $75 million, according to a state audit that points to a lack of oversight and other deficiencies in Maryland’s second-largest school system.
The report found problems in required justifications for contracts given without a competitive bidding process — known as sole-source contracts — along with a failure to submit those and other contracts to the school board for approval.
State auditors pointed to gaps in computer network security, the payroll approval process, and decision-making on executive-level employee pay increases.
Monica Goldson, the interim chief executive for the Prince George’s school system, responded with concern to the findings, saying in a community letter that she is taking steps to place the system’s procurement office under outside control while procedures are revamped.
Goldson said she would request an external audit of 13 sole-source contracts highlighted in the state report, with the aim of spotting potential ethical lapses or criminal wrongdoing. If found, such problems will be referred to law enforcement or other agencies, she said.
Click here to read the rest of thew article written by Donna St. George over at the Washington Post
