Administrators turn their district’s budget into personal play money.
When the Wellington School District budget crisis hit the local newspaper, citizens were shocked. The superintendent, Tina Franken, and business manager, William McKenzie, implemented innovative programs that improved employee morale and productivity — not only for the central office, but also for the eight schools within the district. Before Franken’s arrival, the school district was often an embarrassment to the town, as employee issues led to frequent firings or resignations and the airing of dirty laundry in the local news. When the longtime district accountant resigned and filed a legal complaint against McKenzie, which consisted of fraud, abuse of town policies, and violations of state laws, gossip among district employees and citizens implied there were ties between the legal complaint and the budget crisis.
