Judson Independent School District, Texas

The Judson Independent School District is one of 840 public school districts in Texas. The District based in Judson, Texas in Western Texas off of Interstate 10.

Financial irregularities

 

In May 2008, a report was commissioned in response to public outcry over a $10 million football stadium built by the district that went $4 million over budget.

 

The report, commissioned by the district's school board, says the district broke the law when it awarded a multi-million dollar contract without the process required by state law.

 

The investigative report was obtained in January 2009 by News 4 WOAI-TV reporters, who say the report reveals in detail how the district  "has mishandled the $236 million bond voters approved in 2006."

 

Examples of apparent misconduct:

• The school board hired an architectural firm called PBK, but outside attorneys hired by the district wrote in the report that they found "...no evidence that any selection process was ever conducted by the district with regard to the employment of PBK as project architect."

• The report says Judson I.S.D. misled voters in 2006 by claiming work on the football stadium was just renovation work when it was really a complete rebuild.

• Board room renovations that were budgeted at $50,000 eventually cost $178,000.

• Property for the board room was bought without going through the process required by law.

• Land for Converse Elementary was bought despite notice it has a pipeline on the property that could add up to $82,000 in extra construction costs.