Columbus – Auditor of State Keith Faber today released the 2019 audit of West Clermont Local School District (Clermont County), which uncovered that a district employee, Trent Davis, collected $17,745 of school district money but did not remit the funds to the district’s Treasurer.

“This is a case where the district employee used student funds to give himself a raise,” Auditor Faber said. “This money should be returned to the district and then it would be appropriate for the district to return the money back to the students.

In 2015, 2016, and 2017, the Glen Este Middle School eighth grade class participated in overnight field trips to Washington D.C., approved by the district’s board. The trips were organized by Davis and chartered by Croswell Tours, Inc. Each student attending the field trips was responsible for the cost of the trip. Students made payments directly to Croswell Tours.

Croswell Tours provided the trip costs per student and Davis approved an additional $65 per student to provide stipends. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, Davis received the stipend checks from Croswell Tours in the amount of $5,980, $5,330, and $6,435, respectively. Davis did not notify the district’s Treasurer that he received the checks and never remitted them to the district. Davis claimed he used the monies to pay himself, chaperones, and other incidental expenses for the students.

Auditor Faber has issued a $17,745 finding for recovery for public monies collected but unaccounted for against Davis and in favor of the school district.

The district is in the process of finalizing a settlement and repayment plan with Davis and expects repayment in full over the next twelve calendar months.

A full copy of this audit is available online.

###

The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio is responsible for auditing more than 6,000 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government. 

Contact:

Allie Dumski

Press Secretary

(614) -644-1111