Greencastle school board puts CFO on paid leave

At a special meeting of the Greencastle Board of School Trustees Saturday morning, the corporation's chief financial officer, Clayton Slaughter, was placed on paid administrative leave until July 2.

The school board and administration want Slaughter to explain why more than $3 million in checks written to the Greencastle Community School Corporation -- including the mid-year GCSC tax draw of $2,903,489 from the Putnam County Treasurer's Office -- were found undeposited in his office desk and safe.

Indiana code requires that all public funds "shall be deposited not later than the business day following the receipt of funds."

The check from the Putnam County Treasurer's Office was issued on May 24 and went undeposited until GCSC Supt. Lori Richmond called Treasurer Sharon Owens to see when the corporation might expect its final June tax draw.

Owens alerted Richmond that a $2,903.489 check written on May 24 and delivered to CFO Slaughter was still outstanding as of June 18.

In all, 119 checks -- representing funds from three grants, vendors, rebates, book fees and even a $22,000 insurance settlement on the Deer Meadow roof -- were found in Slaughter's office.

The checks date back as far as March 3.

Both Richmond and the school board say that, to the best of their knowledge, no taxpayer funds have been misappropriated as a result of the CFO's alleged failure to deposit corporation funds in accordance with the law.

School board member Mike White asked board president Bruce Stinebrickner to explain "why exactly we're not terminating (Slaughter) today."

Stinebrickner, looking to board attorney Bob Rund for advice, indicated that Slaughter should be given the opportunity to defend himself for his actions or -- as it appears -- inaction.

Because the CFO is currently on a remote camping trip, he could not be reached via telephone or email. Slaughter will be sent a letter to his Bloomington home, advising him of the action taken by the school board Saturday morning.

He was represented in the audience by his wife, Tara Slaughter, who said her husband will be out of the country until June 30. She also advised that his GCSC email account has been disabled and all incoming emails are being redirected to Supt. Richmond's account.

More than two dozen members of the public, many of whom were teachers or administration members past and present, attended the 65-minute meeting at the corporation offices at Ridpath Primary School.

More details on further discussion of the undeposited check issue and the overall financial standing of the school corporation will be included in Monday's Banner Graphic.