SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse City School District is taking another look at the controversial individual school accounts. Last week, the full board rejected a measure to lower the maximum amount of those accounts from $7,500 to $5,000. Monday, the Policy Committee proposed lowering that even further to $1,500.
Board Member Kim Rohadfox-Ceaser says "We don't want it to seem like we are being wasteful with the publics money which is not the case so we decided that it was in the best interest of the schools and our responsibility to reduce the amount available."
The school board will get a chance to look over the details of the proposal at its next meeting. A final vote is expected in January.
These accounts already need prior approval. Principals also must attend a training session each year offered by the fiscal services department.
The school accounts have been under scrutiny since an audit found an apparent mishandling of funds by Fowler principal Laura Vieria-Suarez. Superintendent Dan Lowengard cleared her of any wrongdoing. Vieria-Suarez is currently serving as the principal on special assignment at the district's central office.
