Fired Moab school chief plans to sue

After a nearly a monthlong investigation by state officials into financial operations of the Moab Community School, the school dismissed its director this past week.

But Theresa Carey, MCS's now former director, said the decision was biased and based on hearsay and she plans to proceed with legal action.

Board Chairman Paul Malluck would only say there was a decision "to not reinstate Carey effective immediately" and declined further comment.

"They ignored my request for a due process hearing and failed to advise me of any of the reasons for my termination," Carey stated in a letter to the Deseret Morning News. "They merely indicated that I serve 'at the pleasure of the board' and they were not 'pleasured.' "

Carey was placed on administrative leave in mid-January after the State Charter Board got wind of concerns about the financial operations at the school.

The state office launched an investigation, sending its internal auditor to go over the school's finances.

Findings of the review revealed evidence of financial mismanagement, such as improper accounting procedures, lack of reimbursement receipts and more than $40,000 in tax penalties.

The report came with a recommendation in early March to not reinstate Carey. However, the MCS board said they would consider Carey's response to the report before making any decisions and put off meeting until this past week as she prepared a response.

Two State Charter School Board members also attended the meeting to support the Moab board and dispel rumors the school was in unfavorable light with the state.

MCS is in its first year of operation as a charter.

Requests to charter the school in past years were denied, so in 2003 leaders opened the school as a private institution with around 40 students. Then in early August they received approval from the newly formed State Charter Board.

Carey said the problems came in making the transition from a private business to a public charter school within a month. She doesn't deny there were bookkeeping problems but said with a little more help from the state and a little more time the school would have been on track.

"(The problems weren't) criminal or illegal, just not in compliance with the state," said Carey

In her statement she said the decision to terminate her was "laced with emotional bias, based on hearsay and innuendo rather than on a careful study of the facts."

The Moab Community School is a K-8 charter school that uses a multicultural, artistic approach to education in hopes of awakening a responsibility to community and instill an appreciation for diversity.

"I feel good about the (MCS) board's efforts," said State Charter Board Member David Moss, who attended the meeting. "It's a good school that fills a niche in that part of the state and my hope is this decision will help them move ahead."

Carey's departure from the school follows the resignation DaVinci Academy director Mark Allen.

DaVinci is a charter school in Ogden, and leaders are keeping mum on the reasons for his resignation but said it was a mutual decision.

---

E-mail: terickson@desnews.com