THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509070436
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
An invitation is all that's standing between the School Board, the City Council and former Superintendent Sidney L. Faucette's participation in sorting out the school's budget mess, the former superintendent said from Georgia Wednesday.
Faucette, who had not returned calls until Wednesday, said he didn't want to get into finger-pointing over the budget crisis. He said he could not respond to specific allegations because he has yet to be contacted by the School Board or City Council with details of the situation.
``There have been no inquiries made of me'' by Beach officials, Faucette said.
Patricia A. Phillips, the city's finance director, said she didn't think Faucette needed to be in Virginia Beach now. ``I don't know what that would add,'' she said.
Neither the city nor the school district has a clear picture of what went wrong or who is to blame, she said. Once the city's audit is completed in about six weeks, it may be appropriate for Faucette to come here to explain his role, Phillips said.
``I think we're going to have to wait and see what we have before we speculate.''
School Board Chairwoman June T. Kernutt said the board had not indicated any intention of asking Faucette to return.
Board member Tim Jackson said, however, he would welcome a visit by the former superintendent.
``If he has some insight into this, I definitely want him to come back and explain it,'' Jackson said.
Faucette, who guided the state's second-largest school system for four years before taking a job in Gwinnett County, Ga., increasingly has been at the center of questions and concerns over past budget practices.
In a special budget session Tuesday, board members were told the administration had given them misleading information upon which to base some decisions. Several board members have said or implied that they think Faucette is to blame for the $7.4 million shortfall.
``To the best of my knowledge, I never provided any information to the School Board that was an inaccurate representation of what a program cost or any cost associated with functions within the system,'' Faucette said. ``That one I'll talk to St. Peter about. I promise it will get me into the holy gates.
``As superintendent of Virginia Beach, I'm extremely proud of what went on in the district for children.''
Faucette said all he knows of the Beach's budget situation comes from reading the Gwinnett newspapers. He said he felt the City Council's decision to pursue an expanded audit of the school books was the correct course.
At the time of his departure, Faucette said, the board was being assured of a budget surplus in excess of $1 million.
``When I left there, I was 110 percent sure that financially we would close the books out and the end-of-year balance would be there.''
Faucette said he has not contacted school officials because he wants to avoid the appearance of tampering in their investigation. But, if asked, he said he would be glad to return and take part in getting to the bottom of the crisis.
``I, as much as anyone, want to know what occurred.'' MEMO: Staff Writer Karen Weintraub contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Sidney L. Faucette said Wednesday he didn't want to get into
finger-pointing over the school budget crisis.
by CNB