The Woodland Hills School District is responding to concerns raised by a state lawmaker over district finances and the superintendent’s extended paid leave.
PA State Representative Abigail Salisbury says she has reached out to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office, State Attorney General and others after receiving numerous accusations of abuse of taxpayer dollars.
In a release on social media, Salisbury says she has also received complaints about the superintendent being placed on leave for “several months”.
Rep. Salisbury tells Colin Dunlap there have been too many complaints about the situation at Woodland Hills for her to ignore and that the tax payers don't totally fund the school district and she feels obligated to dig a little deeper.
“I feel like as a member of the appropriations committee and as a state representative, I have to make sure that the state is spending money on the school district in a way that is appropriate and these public outcries have gotten to the point now where.
. . I can’t ignore them,” said Salisbury.
She adds she hopes that everything is on the up and up but says it’s her duty to make sure the money is being spent appropriately.
Woodland Hills School District released a statement in response to the allegations.
Woodland Hills School Board President Terri Lawson says State Representative Abigail Salisbury has not made specific allegations or requested information from the district.
Lawson says there is no evidence of misused public funds and points to a current fund balance of more than $11 million dollars.
As for the superintendent’s leave, the board says it is legally prohibited from discussing personnel matters but remains committed to transparency where the law allows.
See the full statement below:
