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The Dallas County School District Board of Education has put Sandra Purdie, Chief School Finance Officer, on notice after having a lengthy executive session to discuss legal issues.

One of the items for discussion in the closed session involved Purdie’s contract. The board called for Purdie to address the board in executive session.

After the closed meeting, Board President Leroy Miles instructed board attorney Malika Fortier to discuss the concerns the board has with Purdie. Miles said he would not be able to comment on why they put the CSFO on notice. It is possible the board may address the contract at a future meeting.

“I cannot comment on this because it is a personnel matter,” Miles said.

While Miles did not confirm the nature of the reason why Purdie was on notice, the school’s audit for the fiscal year 2023 was discussed.

Quinette Bruno, a representative with the Alabama Department of Examiners and Public Accountants, presented seven finding from last year’s audit. Some of the findings were related to not being provided minutes from board meetings and reconciliation of bank accounts not being done on time each month.

Two of the findings that prompted questions from the board were not having “adequate procedures for disbursements” and not following federal guidelines with the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) projects regarding awarding of contracts.

Miles said he was aware that some contracts were awarded with “no bids.”

Bruno said she was unable to answer specific questions about the findings in the audit, but she referred those questions to her supervisor. She left that person’s name and number with the board members present. 

In other business, the board:

• Approved minutes from the February 22 disciplinary hearing special called meeting and the June 20 regular meeting.
• Approved the monthly financial statement.
• Approved the IXL license fee.
• Approved at $720,000 bid with New South to replace the roof at Southside Primary School.
• Approved purchasing playground equipment for Salem, Bruce K. Craig, Southside and J.E. Terry elementary schools.
• Approved a $2,000 per month contract with Delta Rehabilitation Services for occupational therapy services.
• Approved the contract for physical therapy services.
• Approved the BCBA supports.
• Approved technology purchases greater than $15,000 from InCareK12, CDW-G and Quill.
• Approved the employee workday calendars and the 240-day workers’ calendar revision.

* Approved the personnel action report that was revised and the addendum report. 

• Heard from Superintendent Anthony Sampson who announced that the board approved Ashley Hardy as the principal of the alternative learning school. She has previously served as a counselor at Dallas County High School.
• Discussed two additional legal items in executive session.
• Heard from Tanya Miles about the new procedures being implemented on the Teacher’s Bill of Rights passed by the legislature this year.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Thursday, August 22.