Audit: Special Needs School Uses Funds For Playstation, iPods

A Rockville special education school did not keep proper financial records of student activity funds, an internal audit by Montgomery County Public Schools determined.

The Gazette published the MCPS audit Wednesday in a story on a MCPS investigation of whether student work-study funds were mishandled by staff at Rock Terrace School.

The Office of Shared Accountability audit—which can be viewed here— was issued by MCPS Internal Auditor Roger W. Pisha in November 2011.

The report examined student activity funds between August 2008 and September 2011. The audit did not address the school’s work-study program, the subject of the current MCPS investigation.

According to the audit, the school’s financial records had not been properly kept since Rock Terrace’s financial specialist position was abolished in July 1, 2011.

The report also found that in 2010, $1,000 was spent for a PlayStation, a Nintendo 3DS and nine iPod Shuffles without any record of who received the items.

Similarly, gift cards were purchased with student activity funds, but there were no records for who received the cards, according to the audit.

The report also found that the school had collected more money from students than what was invoiced by MCPS for Outdoor Education.

News of the audit comes as parents of Rock Terrace students voice concern over what happened to the money students earned through a transition-to-work program.

Parents allege that staff at Rock Terrace School set up bank accounts for money students earned and then withdrew the earnings for themselves, an attorney and special education advocate working with Rock Terrace students has told Patch.

Rock Terrace teaches work-life skills to special education students ages 12 to 21.