State auditor investigates principal

By By Lynette Wilson / staff writer
Jan. 15, 2003
A Meridian public school principal was placed on administrative leave with pay on Tuesday pending the results of a state investigation into the possible misuse of federal funds.
Superintendent Janet McLin said the state Auditor's Office is looking into West End Elementary School Principal Judy Radcliff's use of grant money intended for tutorial services, goods and materials for students.
McLin said the Auditor's Office has advised her not to discuss the probe. But the superintendent did say that the spending irregularities were discovered by the school in the past few days.
Radcliff, contacted at home, declined to comment on the investigation. Officials with the state Auditor's Office in Jackson also declined to comment.
West End Elementary is one of six Meridian schools that receive Title 1 federal funds which are intended to help at-risk students meet state and local educational standards.
Title 1 funds can be used for one-on-one tutoring and to purchase supplemental educational materials. West End, which includes prekindergarten through third-grade, received $217,472 in Title 1 funds this year.
West End also receives other federal funds. But school district officials were unable to provide exact figures today.
McLin met with West End teachers Tuesday afternoon and told them their principal was placed on administrative leave.
McLin said Karen Rhodes and Teri Edwards, lead teachers with the Success for All reading program, will take over the school's daily operations.