HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Results from a Huntsville City Schools internal review have school board members stunned.
Superintendent Casey Wardynski presented the findings before the school board Thursday night.
Several examples of wasteful spending and inefficient business practices were introduced, including a report that showed the district missed out on up to $33 million in federal reimbursements in the last 14 years.
These reimbursements are part of a federal program known as E-Rate, which provides discounts for schools that make telecommunications upgrades.
The reason why the district didn't take advantage of the funds is because school employees did not apply for them, according to school officials.
District 4 School board member, Topper Birney, said the news is still sinking in.
"It was a real shocker. Some of the things they talked about last night were completely new to me," Birney said.
Dr. Wardynski issued his chief financial officer, Frank Spinelli, to review all business practices within the school system.
This was a commitment that Dr. Wardynski looked into the moment he started his position as superintendent last July.
Initial findings were introduced to the superintendent in January, and the results were presented to the school board one month later.
Another report showed it cost the school district $46.5 million to build the new Lee High School. Consultants said a more accurate price tag should have been an estimated $23 million.
Birney said while the findings are embarrassing, they'll now address the situation head-on.
"We made a mistake. We brought it to the public's eye. We're not trying to hide behind it, we put it out in the open, we're going to fix it," Birney said.
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