For years, the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) has wasted millions of dollars that could have otherwise been wisely spent to improve education for students. Instead, they have allowed administration to carelessly spend out of their own personal convenience instead of utilizing their vendors in a fiscally-responsible manner. But who’s looking? Not those who are currently in charge of overseeing the operation of our schools. Meanwhile, teachers don’t even have enough materials to properly teach their class. This matter of wasteful spending has been brought to the attention at a board meeting months ago and nothing has been done.
The WCBOE has a list of vendors that they do business with. Follett is one and Amazon is another. Below you will see some examples of just two invoices that were obtained from a FOIA request for some book purchases that were made. Noted on the right of each invoice is Amazon’s price for the same book and the calculated waste at the bottom of each invoice.
For years, the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) has wasted millions of dollars that could have otherwise been wisely spent to improve education for students. Instead, they have allowed administration to carelessly spend out of their own personal convenience instead of utilizing their vendors in a fiscally-responsible manner. But who’s looking? Not those who are currently in charge of overseeing the operation of our schools. Meanwhile, teachers don’t even have enough materials to properly teach their class. This matter of wasteful spending has been brought to the attention at a board meeting months ago and nothing has been done.
The WCBOE has a list of vendors that they do business with. Follett is one and Amazon is another. Below you will see some examples of just two invoices that were obtained from a FOIA request for some book purchases that were made. Noted on the right of each invoice is Amazon’s price for the same book and the calculated waste at the bottom of each invoice.
During an interview with faculty members, it was said that administration tells them which vendor to order from and that they don’t have a choice. According to the the WCBOE Procurement Procedure ADM-FIN-PR-004, it is stated that: “The Departmental Buyer is responsible for vendor selection when the purchase is within their purchasing authority.” It’s clear that this isn’t taking place and nobody’s bothering to check.
There’s a pattern of waste and it’s not just limited to books. There are thousands of invoices with millions of dollars in waste and abuse. In addition to not getting the best prices from vendors, WCBOE administration has also been caught deceptively requesting funds for one purpose and then using it for another purpose on numerous occasions. This is called misappropriation. Here’s an exhibit of calling out the misappropriation and a follow up with proof of the misappropriation. This stuff goes on quite frequently and without any real consequences.
The WCBOE and its administration will tout that they have had multiple financial audits that have passed with flying colors and even received rewards for their accounting. However, auditors hired by the school system (which is a conflict of interest) are not looking for wasteful spending, misappropriation or grant compliance, but simply for pennies to add up. The pennies do add up for sure.
Plus, with their Amazon Prime credit card, they’d get 5% back in Amazon purchase credits.
They take bids from “the usual suspects” bookseller, then contracts are written with the best bidder.
Some school procurement agents actually shop around, while most say that the savings aren’t really worth the effort, and just pull out the catalogs sent to them every year by the same sellers. The BOE will say that it’s administration’s call, and administration will point to Annapolis. There the story widens, where teachers’ unions incessantly lobby decision makers to favor one vendor over another.
So, sorry, and good luck in trying to change all that for a few thousand dollars in local savings.
Please have teachers contact board members telling exactly what they need for teaching in the classroom. Any body can make statements, but can you give specific teacher’s names and exactly what they need. Maybe they want materials that have not been approved by the board. Can you say CRT. These are the types of materials the parents have been complaining about.
Cmon..there is zero proof that the CRT curriculum is taught in grade schools. Not saying teachers dont have opinions but no official curriculum. Now in colleges and universities where one must pay for the class….katie bar the door on that. Rainbow 101, Minority philosophy, etc etc….yeppers.
Side note, tennis, bowling and excursions in the.great outdoor electives for 1 credit wasnt just for getting an easy A. Lots of other easy things took place. One “paid” for the course and received lots of extra credit opportunities. Get with the program folks, the wrong side of the isle will be “left” holding the bag in November and the right side will fix all the lies being spewed from the left.
No CRT officially in grade schools. And give all a break about books. We read the same kinda things whereas the kids have easy access to all that today.
Why hasn’t John Palmer (Grandfather of VOICE, Voters Opposed to Increased County Expenditures) intervened and eliminated this kind of wasteful spending? Isn’t that the very reason why he was appointed to being a member on the WCBOE. Simply shows that all local Wicomico County officials are a bunch of POS!
Easy fix defund public education and issue school vouchers
A real savings for the taxpayer would be eliminate Bill Frish and give that arrogant know it all S.O.B. “DABOOT”!!!!
Send me rebates on my TAXES for school funding and no pay raises / benefit increases until the students and supplies are pro student for learning reading writing arithmetic.
Also look at the new BENNETT. that was a waste of money considering that it was built on very low water logged property that was unsuitable for any structure. That was a RICK POLLITT and 2 businesses that owned that property or had an option on that property. Investigate that kick back scheme.
Easy fix defund public education issue school vouchers remove
DISOLVE THE BOE SYSTEM! Defund and eliminate the unions.
The entire system is kaput!! Crooked tax sucking waste machine!
Now would Rick Pollitt be involved in any kind of shady deal?? Of course not! LOLOLOL (only if money was involved)
Mr. Lombardo’s letters are straight to the point: responsible requests for funding. Bravo!
Don’t forget to COME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TONIGHT (Tuesday) at 7 p.m. West Salisbury Elementary School !!!! If you are concerned for your kids, grandkids at least show up to see exactly how the public is being lied to and deceived. If you can’t get involved – don’t complain when your kid can’t read, write or add when they graduate. Bet they will be able to choose which bathroom they want to go into though !!!
As an employee of the system. You have no idea how much money is wasted in the school system. There is zero accountability. Everything can be justified so its never gonna go away.
Problem is he’s quoting paperback prices (which is mainly all Amazon sells). I believe schools use hardbacks which are more expensive.
And there is the theft of items all the time, in the schools.