District CFO defends CCSD recruitment trip to Miami amid federal investigation
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Clark County School District’s chief financial officer went before the district’s audit committee on Tuesday to discuss teacher recruitment trips.
“I’m [going to] start with the fact that this discussion probably stems from recruiting trips that were on the news,” CCSD CFO Jason Goudie said.
A two-part 8 News Now investigation uncovered that CCSD staffers used COVID-19 relief funds to take a trip to Miami Beach over the Fourth of July weekend.
Goudie said the district would tighten and clarify certain travel procedures, but the trips didn’t violate any rules.
“All travel, regulations, policies, and procedures were followed. No violations under the grant status of the funding were noted in the review,” Goudie said.
Records showed 17 staffers spent five nights at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront on Miami Beach and each had their own room.
With flights, room, and meals, the trip cost taxpayers nearly $29,000.
CCSD spent nearly $29K to send employees to Miami for Fourth of July, records show
CCSD previously acknowledged to 8 News Now the trip didn’t lead to any new hires.
“What I believe this was, was a recruiting trip did not bear the fruit of the labors,” Goudie told members of the audit committee.
Records 8 News Now obtained showed staffers also traveled to places like Hawaii and Texas.
CCSD staff took recruitment trips to Hawaii, Texas, Los Angeles, unknown if teachers were hired
All the recruitment trips for the 2022-2023 fiscal year added up to $150,000.
Anna Marie Binder sits on the audit committee and questioned the spending.
“Being good stewards of public money, I would also like to see language in there, that, you know that any of those travel expenses should be the cheapest available,” Binder said when it comes to updating the policy.
Joseph Throneberry, another member of the committee, expressed concern for the perception the Miami Beach trip created.
“Using common sense to say, ‘Okay, maybe we shouldn’t stay on a direct oceanfront room on the beach.’ You know maybe a little more conservative,” Throneberry said. “But, you know sometimes that may be the best deal.”
The CCSD Miami trip has led to both state and federal investigations into the misuse of COVID relief funds.
CCSD’s CFO says he will look into updating the guidance to staff on submitting travel documents. The district’s travel policy was last revised in 2009.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
