Whistleblower leads to State investigation into Hickman Mills School District spending

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Missouri State Auditor’s Office has launched an investigation into possible inappropriate spending by the Hickman Mills C-1 School District.

Earlier this month, a letter was sent to Hickman Mills School Board President Irene Kendrick requesting multiple documents for this investigation.

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said a whistleblower raised concerns last year about potential misuse of funds in the school district and it felt credible enough to open this investigation.

One of those concerns is the termination of a contract with technology companies, K12ITC and CIVIC ITC.

In 2024, district documents show it paid $1,407,895.29 in a termination for convenience fee to K12ITC and CIVIC ITC.

“That is $1.4 million that is not available to go to the classroom to teach kids the things they need to know to prepare them for the workforce, that is money that is not available for teacher salaries, for curriculum, for all of the things that go into preparing these kids for their next phase of life,” said Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. He added, “It is concerning to see that kind of large expenditure given the other circumstances surrounding the district.”

Hickman Mills School District is not fully accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and has been working to do so since 2012.

Also in the letter is a request for all travel, fuel, and meal reimbursements from 2023 to October 31, 2024.

Fitzpatrick said a trip to Ghana, West Africa cost the district more than $14,000. He said the Superintendent, School Board member, a Principal, Teacher, and a few high school students went on that trip.

“It appears that the travel expenses were paid for from a federal grant program that was specifically designed for enhancing or increasing student achievement and basically improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders,” said Fitzpatrick. He added, “We have some pretty serious questions about how this use of those funds fits into the guidelines of the grant given that some of the people that traveled were not even district employees or students.”

Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw and Missouri State Representative Anthony Ealy were also on that trip. Both told KCTV5 Investigates that Hickman Mills did not pay for their travel.

“We are going to get to the bottom of how that money if it was appropriately spent and even if that expenditure was technically allowable that is still a very questionable decision to spend student achievement money or grant money that is specifically allocated to increase the performance of the school district on a trip to a foreign country,” said Fitzpatrick.

The State also requested district credit card statements, purchases of boardroom furniture, and invoices for a March 2024 check to the Kansas City Royals Baseball Corporation who went to that game in May 2024.

According to district documents, $840 was spent on Royals tickets.

“We are looking into that use of funds and who was in attendance and what the purpose of that expenditure of taxpayer funds was on baseball tickets,” said Fitzpatrick.

KCTV5 Investigates reached out to Hickman Mills School District and the School Board for comment on this investigation.

“We are aware of the constituent’s complaint and have contacted the Missouri State Auditor’s office. We, along with the auditor, are eager to satisfy the constituent’s complaint. Hickman Mills C-1 School District fully cooperates with the auditor’s office as they conduct their review and will provide anything they require. The district just recently received a clean audit from a third-party auditor,”

• Irene Kendrick, HMC-1 Board President

The district has until March 17 to respond to the State’s letter. From there, the Auditor said it could be a few months before a decision is made.

Fitzpatrick said the purpose of this investigation is to review what was spent, see if it was reasonable and determine if there was any wrongdoing. Depending on what is found, the state auditor’s office could launch a full audit or close the case.

“If I’m a taxpayer in the school district or just a taxpayer of the state because the money we pay in income and sales tax goes into the state and a lot of that money gets sent out to school districts just know that number one we are out there looking at how this money is being spent not just in Hickman Mills but in other school districts around the state,” said Fitzpatrick.

He encouraged anyone who may have any information on the Hickman Mill School District to contact the State Auditor’s Whistleblower Hotline at 1-800-347-8597, email moaudit@auditor.mo.gov, or visit here.

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