10-04-2025
Comptroller: Mountain View Elementary failed to account for $18k in Educare charges
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Mountain View Elementary Educare employees failed to account for $18,854 in student program charges, according to an investigation report from the Tennessee Comptroller's office.
The comptroller's office began investigating allegations of malfeasance within the after-school Educare program from June 2023 through June 2024. The Educare program gives students time to participate in arts and crafts, music, free play, tutoring and homework assistance before and after school.
Parents of students who participate in Educare must pay a program charge. The payments can be made online or in person with cash or check.
The comptroller's office reports that Educare employees failed to properly account for the program charges during the investigative time period.
The following three deficiencies were reportedly found through the investigation regarding Mountain View Elementary Educare employees:
Employees failed to use a separate and secure cash drawer
Employees failed to consistently deposit collections within three days of collection
Employees failed to reconcile the Educare billing system attendance records and receipts
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As a result of the investigation, the comptroller's office determined that at least $18,854 in program charges were unaccounted for.
'Investigators determined this amount by comparing program student attendance records with DHS financial assistance, student discount documentation and receipted student payments,' the report reads.
Many parents told investigators they made cash payments; however, investigators only found three receipts for cash payments from June 2023 to June 2024, according to the report.
The report states that investigators found at least 27 students who continued participating in the after-school program despite unpaid balances, some of which were 41 weeks behind.
'Because multiple MVES-Educare employees collected payments and did not maintain a cashdrawer, investigators could not determine if all student payments were properly receipted orremitted for deposit,' the comptroller's office said in the report.
Since the investigation, school system officials have reportedly indicated their intent to correct or have corrected the deficiencies found.
News Channel 11 has reached out to Johnson City Schools for a response to the investigation.
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