CLAIBORNE CO., Tenn. (WVLT) – The principal of H.Y. Livesay Middle School knowingly approved incorrect timesheets, according to an investigative report by the Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury.

A custodian was hired by the Claiborne County Board of Education in May of 2023. From then until December, the principal was knowingly approving incorrect timesheets, totaling at least $1,844.08, according to the state investigation.

“According to the school principal, she authorized the former custodian’s timesheets, but each day the timesheet documented full daily shifts as worked, and the school principal allowed the former custodian to leave two hours early by 7:00 p.m. due to personal obligations,” the report stated. “The school principal stated she intended for the former custodian to make up unearned compensation hours during the summer, but the former custodian resigned prior to the summer months.”

The custodian resigned in January of 2024.

WVLT News reached out to the school system for comment but has not received a response.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

H.Y. Livesay Middle School

The Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury investigated allegations of malfeasance related toH.Y. Livesay Middle School. The investigation was limited to selected records for the period May1, 2023, through January 11, 2024. The results of the investigation were communicated with theOffice of the District Attorney General of the 8

th

 Judicial District.

BACKGROUND

H.Y. Livesay Middle School (school) is inHarrogate, Tennessee, and is part of theClaiborne County Department of Education(CCDOE). The school serves approximately 260students in grades five through eight.In May 2023, the CCDOE hired a custodian, nowa former custodian, for the school. The formercustodian worked under the supervision of theschool’s principal as a 10-month employee, asshe did not work in June and July. The formercustodian resigned from her position on January11, 2024.

RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION

1.

THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL KNOWINGLY APPROVED A FORMER CUSTODIAN’SINACCURATE TIMESHEETS RESULTING IN UNEARNED COMPENSATIONTOTALING AT LEAST $1,844.08

 During the period May 2023 through December 2023, the school principal knowingly approved aformer custodian’s inaccurate monthly timesheets, which overstated daily hours worked by twohours each work day. Therefore, the former custodian received compensation for two unearnedhours on 89 work days at a compensation rate of $10.36 an hour, totaling at least $1,844.08. Theformer custodian’s timesheets were signed by the school principal and documented that the formercustodian worked full daily shifts from 2:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

(Refer to Exhibit 1)

. According tothe school principal, she authorized the former custodian’s timesheets, but each day the timesheetdocumented full daily shifts as worked, and the school principal allowed the former custodian toleave two hours early by 7:00 p.m. due to personal obligations. The school principal stated sheintended for the former custodian to make up unearned compensation hours during the summer, but the former custodian resigned prior to the summer months. CCDOE officials were unaware of

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H.Y. Livesay Middle School

2the former custodian’s unearned compensation or the verbal arrangement between the school principal and the former custodian, allowing the former custodian to leave daily at 7:00 p.m.

Exhibit 1

The former custodian’s August 2023 timesheet, signed by the former custodian and school principal

CCDOE officials indicated that they have corrected or intend to correct this investigative finding