ISBE questions Paris School District over grant spending

PARIS, Ill. (WCIA) — An Edgar County school district previously in hot water for misusing grant money has received more questions from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Paris School District 95 Superintendent Lorraine Bailey confirmed in an email to WCIA that ISBE has asked the district for more documentation on their spending of ESSER grants for Fiscal Year 2023. The spending ISBE is questioning amounts to $726,653.00.

ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) grants are in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to “enable schools to operate safely during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and support social-emotional and academic recovery,” according to ISBE’s website. Bailey said the funds from ESSER could be used for a variety of expenditures, from Chromebooks and reading materials to professional development for faculty and playground equipment.

Some violations ISBE’s auditing teams are alleging include capital purchases made without approval, expenditure reports using budgeted amounts versus actual costs, and employees being paid in excess.

“ISBE is not saying that the funds were used incorrectly, but proper backup documentation was not provided,” Bailey said in the email.

No formal report against the district has been filed yet. Bailey said the district provided more information and is waiting to hear back from the state agency’s auditing team.

The previous superintendent, Jeremy Larson, had his house raided by the FBI and the district subpoenaed in relation to misspending federal grant money. The district has implemented a spending plan to repay grants. Larson has not been charged with a crime, and he left the district late last year.

WCIA reached out to ISBE on the matter but has not heard back yet.

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