A state auditor’s report found no wrongdoing and has given the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District a clean bill of health regarding several aspects of its operations, including the disposition of surplus scrap metal.
The way the school system handled proceeds from the sale of scrap metal was one of the issues brought to light in a lawsuit former Roanoke Rapids police Chief Bobby Martin filed against the city last month over what he claims was his wrongful termination.
The school system said in a statement this morning that it received the news of the findings at its July 16 meeting.
“I have been impressed with the professional and thorough manner in which the Office of the State Auditor has handled this complaint,” school board Chair Mike Williams said. “I am also pleased that the auditor’s office has found nothing to support the unfounded allegations made in the complaint.”
Williams said, “This is a testimony to the professional and highly competent employees who manage the operations of the school district. This report should also allow us to continue to move forward with renewed confidence as we serve the students and citizens in our district.”
RRGSD Superintendent Julie Thompson said in response to a request for a statement this morning: "As board spokesperson, Chair Dr. Mike Williams has properly addressed the outcome of the state audit. His statement speaks for itself, so as such, I have nothing else to add."
The school system said this morning that on December 6, 2023, the state auditor’s office notified the RRGSD that they had received a complaint and would begin working on an audit. On December 11 of that year, a team from the state auditor’s office met virtually with representatives of the school district to outline the timetable for the audit.
Over the next six months the state auditor’s office conducted its audit including a comprehensive review of RRGSD documents going back to 2022 and interviews with RRGSD personnel.
The school system said the initial complaint questioned RRGSD management of four aspects of its operations:
The disposition of surplus material including the handling of proceeds from the disposition
Procedures for purchasing and the bidding and awarding of contracts
Compliance with regulations governing employee conflicts of interest
Compliance with board of trustee policies and regulations regarding personnel matters
On July 16 the state auditor’s office reported to the RRGSD board that it found that any procedural questions or concerns regarding the disposition of surplus materials had been satisfactorily addressed in 2022 and district policies and procedures had already been strengthened in this area. “With regard to all four areas of the complaint, the state auditor’s office identified no evidence to support the allegations that were made in the complaint,” the school system said. “The state auditor’s office has closed the audit administratively and finds no reason to generate a written report of their findings.”
Regarding the state auditor’s report concerning the school system and how it relates to the lawsuit against the city, Roanoke Rapids City Attorney Geoffrey Davis said this morning, “The city doesn’t have any comment at this time, other than to say that — to the extent that the state auditor’s investigation bears on the allegations in Mr. Martin’s lawsuit — we’ll answer those allegations in our responsive pleading when it’s filed.”
In his complaint Martin charged that since 2007 there had been a practice in place of school maintenance employees selling scrap metal. The complaint says employees would cash the checks made out to them individually. The cash would be brought back to the maintenance shop and kept in a safe.
The money was used to purchase various supplies, jackets with their names on them, flowers for funerals, and to fund cookouts for RRGSD.
Martin’s complaint acknowledges that the school system immediately implemented changes to the policies and procedures for selling scrap metal.
The former police chief’s complaint says the following day the school’s maintenance department turned in more than $14,000 in cash to RRGSD's finance director.
An internal investigation by the school system was closed in July of 2022, Martin’s complaint said.
The police department referred the matter to the state auditor’s office.
Martin claims that his termination in April of 2023 by City Manager Kelly Traynham was malicious and corrupt and motivated by personal desire to protect a department head who is not named in the lawsuit.
The city has said the terminations of Martin and former Captain Jamie Hardy were not tied to any criminal investigations but violations of policies.
Traynham said in her termination letter to Martin she had lost confidence in his ability to lead.
