Union cries foul over White's expenses

Gallup McKinley County Schools Superintendent Karen White was reimbursed for tissue, deodorant, aspirin and Pepto Bismol that she says were used as a "survival kit" gift packages for school administrators during training meetings. [Photo Illustration by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The local teacher's union is questioning some of the expenses paid to County School Superintendent Karen White by the school district.

Officials for the McKinley Federation of United School Employees said that an examination of school records over the past year has revealed that the district has reimbursed White for a number of personal items.

These include deodorant, mouth fresheners, aspirin, indigestion tabs, tissues, book covers, key chains, candles, pens, planners, calculators, and frames.

The district records also show that White was reimbursed for things such as "fear fact," "trap it" and "magic towels."

MCFUSE President Brian Bernard said he felt it was wrong for White to be charging the district for personal hygiene items. In her defense, he said, the charges were just a small part of what the district has paid White over the past school year and they were one-time charges.

White said the union was making much ado over nothing.

The items mentioned by the union, she said, were purchased for a principal's meeting and were part of a "survivor's kit" that was presented to some of the participants. They were meant to be prizes to give out at the meeting, she said.

When told of White's response, Bernard said it was still important for the union to question the district's expenses because school officials have a habit of not telling the public anything.

For the second year in a row, the teacher's union has filed a request for school records pertaining to how much administrators received in reimbursement from the district for expenses during the 2005-2006 school year.

White's reimbursement totaled $4,337 as compared to $705 for John Samford, who is the district's assistant superintendent for finance. Other assistant superintendents who received reimbursements included Leonard Haskie ($555), Chantal Irvin ($449) and Theresa Mariano ($255).

Most of White's reimbursement was for per diem. State law allows her $85 a day for expenses if she travels in state and $115 a day for out-of-state travel. The out-of-state travel could be increased to as much as $215 a day under certain conditions.

Under certain circumstances, such as travel to a city like Santa Fe or Washington, D.C,, where the expenses are high, she was allowed actual meal costs that were not to exceed $30 a day for in-state travel and $45 a day for out-of-state travel.

For example, the financial records showed she was reimbursed $28.92 for a meal of crab cakes and snapper in Phoenix and $31.40 for sausage melange in Philadelphia. The few other meals she turned in were for smaller amounts, according to the union.

"Also questionable were 'tip' claims the superintendent made while she was out of the district for more than 70 days or 14 work weeks," the union said in a statement released Wednesday. "For every one of these days, she charged the district $6 for tips."

Union officials said no other administrator who received reimbursements charged the district for tips. They also said that no receipts were submitted showing who had received these tips.

White said state law allows for reimbursement for tips and doesn't require a receipt for anything $6 and under. "Usually, my tips were higher than that," she said. "We are not doing anything illegal." Outside the per diem, she also charged the district $109 for parking and shuttle fees, $22 for cab fare and $22.50 for a "pvt car." The district also reimbursed her $59.12 for the cost of a tow truck.

Her per diem expenses over that year was $4,125, which union officials said amounted to $343.17 per month. Added to this are several more thousands of dollars that the district paid directly to vendors, like hotels, car rental companies and organizations for registration fees.

"Given the reductions in classroom budgets this year and the nature of some of these charges, MCFUSE believes the school board should begin holding the superintendent accountable for her travel charges," the union statement said.

White said what the union doesn't realize is that she also acts as a lobbyist for the district and 30 of the days listed by the union was spent in Santa Fe lobbying for more funds for the district during the legislative session.

"Next year, I'll be there for 60 days," she said, adding that she hardly travels out of state.

The trip to Phoenix, she added, was to meet with a consultant. The Philadelphia trip was allow school officials to make a presentation during a national conference on curriculum.