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The Dallas County School Board is beginning the process of hiring a new chief schools financial officer after the board terminated Sandra Purdie at their regular meeting on Aug. 22.

Purdie had been placed on administrative notice following an audit report by the Alabama Department of Examiners and Public Accountants released in July. 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.

The board is contracting with the Alabama Association of School Boards to find a permanent replacement. Board President Leroy Miles said they would like to have a new CSFO in place as soon as possible. He suggested that they give AASB 30 days to collect candidates.

After applications are received and properly vetted, Superintendent Anthony Sampson said they could possibly have enough time to interview candidates and select a new CSFO by the October meeting.

Until then, Miles suggested that they appoint an interim CSFO to assist Sampson during the transition. Board attorney Malika Fortier said the board could appoint an interim CSFO who may not be completely certified as long as that person does not serve more than six months.

After they talk with several candidates for the position, Sampson said they could call a special meeting to appoint the interim CSFO. The board already plans to meet next Thursday to hold its second budget hearing, a public hearing on the new board member districts and a special called meeting to adopt the redistricting. It is possible that the board could appoint the person at the called meeting.

Budget hearing

In the interim, Sampson presented the preliminary budget for the district, and he said they are having to deal with not only a loss of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, but the district also had a loss of 156.05 students from its average daily membership totals.

That will result in a cut of 8.76 units for the district. DCS lost 9.26 teacher units and one principal, but it gained 1.5 assistant principal positions. The district also cannot count on $13.83 million in ESSER funds, which Sampson said some teachers were being paid out of those one-time funds.

“So, we have to be able to live off the foundation and lifeblood, which is our federal programs money through Title I,” Sampson said.

So far, Samspons said the district is sitting around 2,180 students for this year, which is only about 56 students. However, board member Mark Story observed that it would result in a lost teacher unit for next year.

The fiscal year 2025 budget is based on 2,236.35 students, down from the 2,392.4 number used to calculate the 2024 budget.

Right now, Sampson said the district is expected to spend around $33.33 million for 2025, but he said that number will change slightly as they will find out additional allocations for state and federal dollars.