Superintendent's attorney rebukes misspending allegation

Former Jasper County School District superintendent Vashti Washington is denying an allegation that she misused $54,000 in public funds and is lashing out at the school board member who made the claim.

Washington, who resigned from the school board in December, is accused by board member Randy Horton of giving district employees Christmas bonuses without getting approval from the board. While the bonuses are traditionally allocated at the end of the school year, Washington distributed the money sometime between Dec. 10, when she agreed to resign, and Dec. 31, when she left her post, according to the school district.

Wednesday, Washington's attorney Jim Moss released a statement, contending the allegation of misspending is part of a "campaign of harassment" and is unfounded.

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Moss said over the phone. "This Randy Horton is just nuts and goes off accusing everybody of being criminals and it's just not so."

Tuesday, Horton filed a police report with the Ridgeland Police Department about the bonuses. He said he did it to obtain a detailed list of employees and bonuses, and to ensure there was a "black-and-white" record of the incident.

It is unclear whether Washington violated district or board policy in distributing the money. The district's attorney in the matter, Ken Childs, said he is currently trying to determine whether Washington had the authority to do so.

"That's a matter about which reasonable people can differ," Childs said. "Obviously, she is taking the position that she doesn't believe she violated (policy). I think some board members feel it was an ill-advised action."

According to Washington's attorneys, the former superintendent gave financial incentives to about 450 employees in December, ensuring all regular employees received at least some extra pay.

Washington, who did not receive a bonus, paid them from three district accounts, according to her attorneys, just as she had paid year-end incentives in the previous four years.

"Mr. Horton's apparent outrage is unjustified, and frankly, strange," Moss' statement read. "Dr. Washington's only regret is that she did not have a larger allocation to distribute, especially to the lower-wage employees who work for very low pay."

Gary West, the district's chief finance officer, said Wednesday he could not provide a record of past years' bonuses, but confirmed Washington had made similar payments in the past. He said he plans to compile them for the board's next meeting.

"I think the timing factor is the only difference," West said.

It's not the first time Washington and Horton have tangled.

The two were previously involved in a legal battle after Washington filed a lawsuit in April 2014 claiming Horton "slandered and libeled" her and influenced a federal investigation of the district.

Horton counter-argued that Washington sought only to harass and silence him.

The suit was dismissed in December after Horton agreed to pay an undisclosed settlement to Washington, according to her attorneys.

Horton said Wednesday he settled for about $15,500.

Horton also raised concerns over the district's spending and budgeting in 2012, when he claimed to be aware of evidence of credit card fraud among board members and district officials.

In July 2012, he was taken to an area hospital by Jasper County Sheriff's Office deputies for a psychological evaluation at the request of his family.

Horton did not receive an evaluation and told reporters at the time that he'd lost considerable sleep over his investigations of alleged financial misconduct and deception in the district.

"I don't like being lied to," Horton said Wednesday as to why he's alleged misconduct and fraud within the district and on the school board for years.

"He appears to have a belief that if one disagrees with him, one must have committed a crime," read Moss' release. "The school district has spent untold thousands of dollars in legal fees as a consequence of various 'investigations' launched by Mr. Horton."

Between July 2010 and April 2015, the district spent about $67,500 on legal fees related to Horton, according to a district analysis based on legal invoices. That accounts for 7 percent of the district's non-construction related legal fees in that five-year period.

It's also more than the district spent on superintendent matters -- $61,000 -- and all other school board legal fees combined -- $65,000.

The fight over the bonuses is unrelated to an investigation into the district's operations that the FBI and IRS launched in the spring of 2014.

Earlier this month, district spokesman John Williams said it has been 16 months since the FBI contacted the district about that investigation.

Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.

Related content:

• Jasper school board member calls superintendent's suit harassment, June 26, 2014
• Deputies take Jasper school board member for psychological evaluation, July 13, 2012

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 7:48 PM with the headline "Superintendent's attorney rebukes misspending allegation ."