State issues finding for recovery in audit of Eagle Heights

Staff report

Youngstown

A state audit issued an $833 finding for recovery against the teacher of a former charter school.

The audit, which covers fiscal year 2010 of the former Eagle Heights Academy, was released Tuesday by state Auditor Dave Yost’s office.

It found that the teacher, Seleka Stanley, was being paid based on a $30,500 annual salary, which was more than what had been approved by the board. The payment was authorized by the school treasurer, Cherie Cox, and chief executive, John Booher, the audit says.

Officials for the school told auditors that the money has been repaid.

Other findings in the audit don’t involve recovery but list a lack of time sheets for employees paid with federal funds and a failure to submit required documents and to timely reconcile cash and payroll accounts.

The Ohio Department of Education ordered Eagle Heights Academy closed at the end of the 2009-10 school year, citing poor academic performance. The school opened the next year as Southside Academy under management by White Hat Management of Akron.

A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court magistrate placed Eagle Heights Academy in receivership, directing that all school business affairs and property be put under a receiver’s control. A state audit in May 2010 reported more than $1 million in illegal and improper financial transactions at Eagle Heights.