FORMER MCS EMPLOYEE ACCUSES IKE GRIFFITH OF MISMANGEMENT OF SCHOOL FUNDS

Former Memphis City School employee Tim Stroud is alleging that Ike Griffith has mismanaged at least $250,000 in school funds raised from field trips through an unauthorized vendor. I have received numerous documents from Stroud that seem to back up his allegations including sworn statements from Griffith where he states he did not follow policy.

When contacted by Stroud I told him that I knew Griffith and that I had supported his bid for the city council but that if he could document his claims I would go forth with the story. I made contact with Griffith who states that Stroud is just upset because he was fired from the school system which I stated could be the case until I started reading many of the documents. I received a call from school board member Martavious Jones who states that the board did a review of this issue and found nothing wrong and that Stroud had been fired for pawning school equipment but Stroud's letter of termination does not state anything at all as to why he was fired. Stroud denies doing anything wrong and feels as though he was fired for exposing this issue.

While I will be posting the documents of Stroud, here is what he claims has happen:

Dear Board of Commissioners, I am Timothy A. Stroud and I am writing as a concerned parent of a Memphis City School student and a taxpayer here in Shelby County.

I am writing to ask you to launch an immediate Forensic Accounting Investigation relating to all of the past Memphis City Schools Telecommunications Center sponsored out-of-town field trips and Papa John's Pizza Coupon Card Fundraisers coordinated and promoted by Ike Griffith from 2000 - 2007.

Trips were taken to: Chicago - (2001 - 2002) Atlanta - (2002 - 2003) New Orleans ( fall 2003 ) New York (spring 2004 ) Several TCC out-of-town field trips were also taken to the campus of UT Martin during this period as well.

The Papa John’s Coupon Card Fundraiser was used for all of the aforementioned TCC sponsored out-of-town field trips and in addition to those, Ike Griffith as President of the John P. Freeman Parents Association, coordinated a Papa John’ Pizza Coupon Card Fundraiser in which the funds raised were used to purchase a brand new school marquis/sign being used today. Ike Griffith testified under oath on November 16, 2007 and on July 15, 2008 and admitted that he has never received District Approvals for any of the Papa John’s Pizza Coupon Card Fundraisers that he has coordinated in the past.

Ike Griffith testified under oath and admitted to having never filled out a required MCS School Activity Accounting Fundraiser Approval Form. There are no MCS School Activity Accounting Fundraiser Approval Forms on file at the Board for any of the past TCC sponsored Papa John’s Pizza Coupon Card Fundraisers that were executed at the TCC and in the TCC feeder Schools dating from the years 2000 – 2007. I believe that on the TCC sponsored out-of-town field trips to Chicago (Spring 2002), Atlanta (Spring 2003), New Orleans (Fall 2003) and New York (Spring 2004), an average of 125 students attended those trips at an average cost of at least $500 per student.

The amount of money paid to Ike Griffith would be approximately $62, 000.00 per trip x 4 trips = approximately $250,000.00. Being that Ike Griffith has never filed a single required MCS School Activity Accounting Fundraiser Approval form with the District, there has never been any financial accountability given by Ike Griffith to justify his actions with those funds over the years. There are no records on file at MCS to show the contracts entered between Ike Griffith and Papa John’s Pizza (Kelly Thomas). Therefore, it is undetermined how many Papa John’s Pizza Coupon Cards Ike Griffith had at his disposal over the years. Each Papa John’s Pizza Coupon Card sold for $10.00 and of the $10.00, $8.00 would go to the seller and $2.00 would go back to Papa John’s Pizza. Without contracts and required MCS School Activity Accounting Fundraiser Approval forms on file, Ike Griffith has not given accountability for his actions with those fundraisers.

After hearing that Ike Griffith has never complied with Board Policy relating to these out-of-town field trips and Papa John’s Pizza Coupon Card Fundraisers, self-appointed Director of Schools and Labor Relations Administrator Kimkea Harris and Director of Internal Auditing, Melvin Burgess, II, have failed to launch an investigation into these blatant violations by Ike Griffith.

As a concerned parent of a MCS student and as a taxpayer in Shelby County, Tennessee, I am asking the elected MCS Board of Commissioners to launch an immediate Forensic Accounting Investigation into these financial matters. I made this request to Dr. Kriner Cash and Mr. Melvin Burgess, II and I have not received any feedback. Therefore, with all due respect, I am asking you to please provide feedback into your findings from this requested Forensic Accounting Investigation.

I feel this is very important and relevant as you are in a heated battle with the City of Memphis over millions of dollars. I also feel that before you look to external revenue sources, you should make sure you have control internally of the revenue sources already under your stewardship and hold any and all parties accountable for misuse and abuse of those funds. I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter and I look forward to hearing from you soon, as I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Timothy A. Stroud