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State auditor wants ethics probe of Dayton charter school

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By Anthony Gottschlich, Staff Writer Updated 10:04 AM Thursday, November 5, 2009

Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor wants the Ohio Ethics Commission to review potential ethics violations at the NuBethel Center of Excellence, a Dayton charter school on Siebenthaler Avenue, her office announced Thursday, Nov. 5

Taylor’s request follows the release of a state audit of the school for fiscal year 2008, which reveals “the mismanagement of school finances and the misspending of more than $8,600.”

Taylor’s ethics referral focuses on the activities of three school officials, all personally related, who approved employment contracts for one another, according to the release. The report reveals that board director James Willis signed employment contracts for his wife, school director Johnnye Willis, and daughter, school executive director Jassica Jones. As executive director, Jones also approved an employment contract for her mother, Johnnye Willis.

Taylor’s report also outlines $8,676 in undocumented debit card purchases, and the overpayment of salaries, leases and sponsor fees. Most of that money was repaid once auditors brought the issues to the attention of school officials. However, Taylor is forwarding the matter to the Ohio Attorney General and the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.

Taylor is also asking the Internal Revenue Service and the Ohio Department of Taxation to investigate tax payments that were withheld from employee paychecks, but not sent to the proper federal and state agencies.

The Willises could not be immediately reached for comment.

Taylor’s audit is the second critical audit she released this year on the 54-pupil school for kindergarten through sixth grades. In May, she reported Nu Bethel illegally spent nearly $28,000 in fiscal 2006 and 2007, withheld taxes from employees but didn’t pay the government, and failed to properly document thousands of dollars in expenditures.

That audit issued $27,708 in findings for recovery, but noted they had already been repaid by Nu Bethel founders James and Johnnye Willis and Treasurer Carl W. Shye Jr.

Johnnye Willis said at the time she was upset by the audit and couldn’t explain all of its findings.

“God knows we’ve been honest and we’ve tried to do the right thing,” she said. “Some things happened beyond our control.”

Shye said he made some mistakes, but attributed most of the troubles to transactions that occurred prior to his joining the school, a computer system that crashed and a high turnover in administrators. But stronger controls are in place today, he said.

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Mr. Conscience... No I don't think what they have done is right by know means. I do believe in my statement I said what they did was wrong. I have a fulltime job and pay taxes as well and want a great education for my children as well, and so far they have. All I'm saying is that EVERYONE, including you, and yes you teacher, make mistakes. I also never said that they shouldn't be punished, I said forgiven. Big differnece!

LB
11:25 AM, 11/6/2009

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To teacher. My kids are very smart! If you are a teacher I hope you don't speak to your students the way you just spoke about mine! And why do you think I'm rambling?? My children are very bright regardless of the school they are in. The teachers that are teaching these children have nothing to do with the criminal activities of Mr. & Mrs. Willis'. And as far as I missed my chance... you know nothing about me. For a teacher, you sure are very ignorant!!!

LB
11:20 AM, 11/6/2009

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The clue the school might face trouble was the name. One would think schools would spell their own names correctly. "Nu", really?

shirley
8:29 AM, 11/6/2009

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Dale1,
You don't think Centerville or Oakwood are good schools districts? Let me ask you, what exactly are you basing your opinion on? There are many excellent public schools in this area, that give students a great educational experience.

Jim
9:44 PM, 11/5/2009

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I am a senior in a public school. I carry above a 4.0 in addition to athletics. I have a promising future ahead of me at yet another "public" school as I plan to go to Ohio State. I am sick of people saying how horrible public schools are... I have done just fine and found my experience to be quite enjoyable. And why? Because my parents have always pointed me in the right direction. Maybe you public school haters should evaluate you parenting style rather than blame the school.

class of 2010
9:03 PM, 11/5/2009

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