The Louisiana Legislative Auditor released a detailed report on Friday, March 22, 2024, uncovering controversial payments made to the former Monroe City School Board (MCSB) superintendent, Dr. Brent Vidrine, involving fabricated documents and unauthorized reimbursements that may have breached state and federal laws.
According to the audit, Dr. Vidrine is accused of using a school board computer to create a counterfeit receipt from the Teacher’s Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) to secure funds improperly from city schools. This fabricated receipt reportedly showed a payment of $48,184.92 made by Dr. Vidrine to TRSL, alongside a misleading estimate for the purchase of creditable service, leading to an unentitled overpayment of $20,000.
Further scrutiny by auditors revealed that Dr. Vidrine received reimbursements amounting to $141,717.66 for retirement contributions that were never stipulated in his employment contracts. These payments, covering the period from June 2014 to October 2023, lacked proper authorization from the MCSB, raising serious concerns about the legality of these transactions
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The comprehensive report includes evidence of the fraudulent activities, featuring copies of the deceptive documents Dr. Vidrine is alleged to have created. Such actions, as outlined in the audit, suggest potential violations of both state and federal laws, casting a shadow over Dr. Vidrine’s tenure with the MCSB.
In defense, a letter from Dr. Vidrine’s attorneys included in the report objects to the implication of legal wrongdoing, citing a settlement between the school board and Dr. Vidrine, with agreements on repayments for the questioned funds.
Nonetheless, the audit’s findings have sparked public demands for accountability, emphasizing the gravity of fabricating official documents and misappropriating educational funds.
