The Glacier reporter., 1959-09-17

indicative of the general tones
of the report are the comments
on an illegally created fund tit.
led Repair and Maintenance" in
accoun, with the local bank War.
rants drawn to the order of
School District No Q from school
fu"d> ,o,alling Sl27 ,4Ol.67. plus
S4.736 2l from miscellaneous rev.
cnuc. asSrcsatinI Sl32. 1873 O3
were deposited at the bank dur.
ing the period June %. 1852 10
August II. 1859.
OF this amount. audltablr was
Sl8.2l373 for the period March
-. 1859 through August 7. 1859.
as evidenced by cancelled checks
and bank statements. Concerning
the balance. the comments read.
Cheeks drawn on the FIRST Ma.
ton Bank from June 26. 1852 to
March p. 1899. totaling Sll3.92l..
30 were not available for audit.
All school records for this period.
including check books. bank state
mcn,s. deposit slips. receipts and
vouchers were admittedly thrown
away by Mr.. Harry Cloke"
Commenting further. the report
quotes minutes of a school Trus.
tees meeting: "A meeting of the
Board of Trustees of School Dis.
trict No. q was held on August
II. 1899 4, 3 pm. at the Brown.
ing High School. Trustees present
at the meeting were Mrs. Chat.
tin. Mr.. RoScnbcrgcr. Mr. Greco
aud Mr., Howard. Also present
were Mrs. Garrow. Clerk of the
Board. Mr.. Miller and Mr.. Ken.
ncdy. State EXa m incrs. Mr.
Wclch. County Attornc" and Mr.
Clokc. former Superintendent.
Mr.. Miller stated that the Exam.
incrS had been called in by the
Board of Trustees to audit all of
the districts funds and accounts.
lie stated that before they could
make the audit complete they
would have to have all of the
records which included cheek
books. bank STAT, n!...ts and dc.
post slips. Nr. Cl.kc was asked
If he had the records of the Re.
pair and Maintenance Fund and
he stated that he had thrown
them away
we are Of the opinion that"
continues the report. lit Is the
duty Of the Board Of Trustees.
To pay ou, money only upon
warrants drawn against the funds
of the school. each warrant spcci.
flying upon its face the specific
purpose for which 1t is drawn.
'Scc,ion 75.+23l. RC.M. 1877"
1T appears that Mr.. Harry
Clokc. Superintendent of Schools.
was charged with the rcccipting.
sairkccping. transferring. disburs.
ing ard accounting Of all monies
IN School District No. o Repair
and Maintenance Fund in accoun,
with the First National Bank of
Browning. and all checks drawn
against this account required the
signature Of Harry II. Clokc.
superintendent. and two trustees
Of School District No. O."
Then follows u significant para.
graph. deposits to and diSbursc.
meats from this account were no,
taken into arcoun. in the official
records OF School District 40. O."
TN" report offers this point
hla,k comment: school records
chrrk books. bank statements and
drposi, slips admittedly thrown
away by Mr.. Harry II tlokr.
Superintendent Of Schools. are
Public Records and may have
been purpuM ly removed ~ Sc
rrctt d 10 conceal improper OK.
nrnhiiurrs from this fund" Then
follows two sections of the Mon.
,ana Statutes setting forth the
violations and penalties for the
criminal o:icrsrs OF larceny. en-.
briilcmrni and fa,sifying public
records. which could be appli.
cable. and one on the withdraw.
ing o. school money in the Gus
,ody of the County Treasurer
and drposi,ing same to the bank
to the crcdi, Of School District
%n . - Repair and Maintenance
Account.
Adds the comment on this &C.
count. This illegal fund was ere.
atcd IN July Of 1882 with the
knowledge Of the Board Of Trus.
tees. who We severely criticize