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Auditor General Casey Warns of Abuses in Spending
by Jeff Deitrich

University Park, Pa.--Public officials, including school district personnel, bear a responsibility to use their public funds judiciously, according to Pennsylvania Auditor General Bob Casey, Jr. in a presentation to school officials at University Park on March 20.

One of the most common problems, according to Casey, is that public officials "forget that it's public money. Some of them really think it's their money." Casey added that one of the best ways to stop spending abuses is to send a message from the top down that such actions will not be tolerated. "In the government, that is from the governor and cabinet appointees," said Casey. "In a school district, it is from the superintendent."

Auditor General Bob Casey, Jr. addresses the Directors Academy of executive administrators for career and technical programs. Casey spoke on fiscal responsibility and integrity.

Casey made his remarks during a keynote address on March 20 to the Directors Academy—a professional development conference exclusively for the executive administrators of central Pennsylvania's career and technical programs. The annual conference is a service of the Penn State's Center for Professional Personnel Development, co-operated by Workforce Education and Development and Agriculture and Extension Education. The center is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Career and Technical Education.

The theme of the conference, "Protecting the Public Trust," was echoed by Casey and David Davare, director of research services at the Pennsylvania School Board Association. Speakers focused on maintaining trust through fiscal accountability and helping school administrators avoid "Enron-like" situations by explaining how they can supervise their business managers effectively. The Directors Academy was coordinated by WFED grad student and PPDC instructor, Monica Atkin.

Casey in particular focused on the abuses of state government. "When every level turns a blind eye or affirmatively says it's OK, such abuses are hard to stop," he said.

The Directors Academy is a unique annual professional development activity designed for executive vocational directors to learn from each other and enrich their professional development, according to Cynthia Pellock, associate director of the Center and assistant professor of workforce education and development.

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