CCSD board member wants answers in probe

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 | 9:54 a.m.

The Clark County School District's investigation into whether former athletic director Larry McKay mishandled funds intended for the Holiday Prep basketball tournament isn't moving quickly enough for School Board member Shirley Barber.

"I want a detailed, written report," Barber told district staff and her board colleagues at Thursday's meeting. "In order to maintain the public trust it's important that we show accountability. We have to make sure these things are taken care of."

Bill Hoffman, senior counsel for the district, reassured Barber that the investigation was both comprehensive and proceeding in a timely fashion.

"It is a very serious investigation that is ongoing," Hoffman said. "This matter is being handled in conjunction with Metro and state employees."

An internal audit was launched last year after staff began looking into the cost to the district of providing utilities and gym facilities to extracurricular activities such as athletic events, Superintendent Carlos Garcia said. That led to a closer examination of the Holiday Prep tournament and its finances.

District officials say the audit showed everything from shoddy bookkeeping to instances where McKay used district funds to reimburse himself for expenses incurred on a personal credit card.

School Board member Mary Beth Scow said she was pleased at how district staff -- in particular, the superintendent -- have handled the investigation.

"We have 28,000 employees and there's no way to guarantee that they will be perfect, no one is ever perfect," Scow said. "What matters is how you handle the situation once you find out that something has occurred and whether the appropriate steps are taken."

Darnell Couthen, spokesman for the school police, said the investigation -- which was expanded in September to include outside law enforcement following the completion of the internal audit -- is nowhere near completed.

"It's going to be a while," Couthen said this morning. "This is an extensive, complicated investigation and it's going to take quite some time to wrap up."

Couthen declined to say whether McKay has been interviewed or what specific role the other agencies were taking.

McKay, who retired in June, could not be immediately reached for comment. In prior interviews with the Sun he has said he did nothing wrong.