SCHOOL BOARD WILL DISCUSS CREDIT CARDS

Cape Girardeau Board of Education is scheduled to discuss its American Express credit card and a list of questions submitted by school volunteer Amy Randol at its meeting Monday.

The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the board office, 61 N. Clark. It is open to the public.

Also on the agenda is employment of administrators and tenured teachers.

Superintendent Neyland Clark is employed by contract.

Discussion about the American Express card will be during a report by the board's finance committee, chaired by board member John Campbell.

A series of articles in the Southeast Missourian last month outlined the school district's uses of an American Express corporate account. Records show Clark turned in detailed receipts for credit card charges about half the time.

The newspaper articles were prompted by a six-month investigation into school district finances by Randol, a school volunteer and critic of the superintendent.

After the articles were published, Campbell wrote a letter to the superintendent and Larry Dew, the school's business manager, listing five steps he wanted to see happen.

He asked that everyone who holds a school district credit card surrender it and to close out the account immediately.

"Having no district credit cards will be the most sure method of ensuring that any such unsupported expenditures are not made again," Campbell wrote.

He also called for:

-- A written, point-by-point response to Randol's letter.

-- A review of the district's procedures relating to the payment of travel and other expenses of administrators, staff and board members.

-- An examination of travel expenditures for adequate support and propriety from July 1, 1992, through Dec. 31, 1994.

-- Reimbursement to the district of any expenditures deemed inappropriate.

Campbell said all points in his letter will be addressed Monday.

"We'll have a report to present to Amy Randol in response to her letter," Campbell said.

The response was drafted by district personnel with assistance from the auditors.

"If any board members have questions or comments, they will be discussed," Campbell said.

School board member Steve Wright, who also serves on the finance committee, expects a large crowd to attend the meeting, and asked that the location be changed.

However, board president Ed Thompson said he doesn't know what size audience to expect Monday.

"No one has said anything to me about there being a crowd," Thompson said.

Even if a large crowd does attend, the meeting will stay at the board room. "We can't move the meeting at the last minute," he said.