SALEM SCHOOLS District buying records seized

District officials are expected to appoint an interim treasurer by month's end.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The Columbiana County prosecutor's office has seized records related to Salem school-district purchasing.
The records were taken during a visit to the school district's administrative offices Dec. 13 by prosecutor's office representatives, schools Superintendent Dr. David Brobeck said Friday.
The documents pertained to purchase orders, Brobeck said without further describing the records.
Brobeck would not say what triggered the records seizure, and Prosecutor Robert Herron was unavailable to comment.
No search warrant was obtained, Brobeck said. The prosecutor's representatives simply asked for and received the documents, which were kept in a safe at the school-district administration building off East State Street.
Treasurer resigned
The seizure occurred two days before district treasurer Ted Cougras of Campbell resigned from his $72,237-a-year post. A year remained on his contract.
District officials have refused to discuss the reason for Cougras' resignation.
The school district hired Cougras, 36, in September 1997 after he had been Campbell's finance director. He also was unavailable Friday.
Filling the post
The school board plans to meet in special session at 3 p.m. Sunday to appoint Brobeck as temporary treasurer until an interim treasurer can be found.
Brobeck said the board must appoint the temporary treasurer quickly, and with Christmas approaching, Sunday was the best possible time for all board members to be present.
The school board expects to name an interim treasurer by Dec. 30, Brobeck said.
The school board has contacted three people, whom Brobeck did not identify, to fill that post.
Once an interim treasurer is appointed, the school board will begin seeking a permanent replacement for Cougras.
No time frame has been established for how soon the treasurer's post will be permanently filled.
leigh@vindy.com