CEO Out, Checks & Balances Implemented At Urban Pathways Charter School

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A KD investigation exposed wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars at the Urban Pathways Charter School.

Now, the board of trustees has accepted the CEO's retirement.

In the wake of those reports, the Urban Pathways board took swift action, immediately placing CEO Linda Clautti on administrative leave and hiring a law firm to conduct its own investigation.

The review confirmed our own findings of abusive, unchecked spending, which included more than $12,000 in restaurant charges in 2010 alone and expensive staff retreats to resorts like Nemacolin, Bedford Springs and Sea Isle City in New Jersey.

On Tuesday night, the board voted to accept Clautti's retirement and adopt a series of checks and balances to ensure fiscal accountability.

Going forward all expenditures of more than a few thousand dollars must be approved by the board and all spending on meals and entertainment will be closely reviewed.

All cell phones given to board members have been returned, and there will be a permanent end to all out of town trips and staff retreats to resorts.

"I think they've addressed the concerns that were raised," said Ira Weiss, the solicitor of Pittsburgh Public Schools.

The Pittsburgh School District, which had requested a record of Urban Pathways expenditures, says the school was forthcoming and seems to have implemented the proper oversight.

"I think they now understand there were control issues before and they've dealt with it," Weiss said.

RELATED LINKS:
FBI, Pittsburgh School Dist. Now Involved In Urban Pathways Investigation (11/11/13)
More Reports on the Urban Pathways School
More Reports by Andy Sheehan

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