State Auditor to examine former Westview superintendent's misuse of district funds

Twenty months after The Turner Report broke the news that former Westview C-6 Superintendent Misty Hailey was spending district money for her and her family, including using the district credit card to pay for her daughter's wedding dress, a state investigation of the district has begun.

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick issued a news release this afternoon announcing that a performance audit of the district has begun:

From the news release:

The Westview C-6 School District will now receive a thorough review from Missouri State Auditor Fitzpatrick after an investigation by his office found a whistleblower complaint alleging inappropriate purchases by the former superintendent to be credible. Fitzpatrick's office met with school officials Tuesday, March 24 to begin the performance audit that will look at the issues with the former superintendent as well as other aspects of how the school district operates.

"There is a great deal of trust placed in school officials to use the funds provided to the district appropriately. In this case, it appears former Superintendent Misty Hailey may have abused that trust by misusing the district's credit card to purchase items for herself and her family that include a wedding dress for her daughter," said Auditor Fitzpatrick. 

"Our investigation has found enough to warrant a full audit that will dig into the details of what happened in the Westview C-6 School District. We will work as quickly as possible to give taxpayers the answers they deserve and, if necessary, work with law enforcement to ensure anyone who has betrayed the public's trust is held accountable for their actions."

The investigation conducted by Fitzpatrick's office was initiated by a Whistleblower Hotline submission that alleged the misuse of school funds by the former superintendent. 

The investigation found evidence of improper governmental activity, which included the questionable credit card purchases that appeared personal in nature, as well as questionable check and payroll disbursements including payments to the former superintendent for additional duties that were not approved by the Board.

Individuals may provide information confidentially for consideration during the audit of the Westview C-6 School District to the State Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline at 800-347-8597, by email at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov, or by visiting www.auditor.mo.gov/hotline.

Some of the allegations referred to by the state auditor were detailed in the July 16, 2024 Turner Report, which revealed that Westview's Board of Education was fully aware of what was going on.

The reason they knew it is because, for the most part, the board approved actions Hailey had taken including the following:

-An approximately $10,000 job to install security equipment was awarded, without bid, to Hailey's husband. The sources confirmed the board agreed to pay the money, not to Hailey's husband, but to Hailey and label it as a reimbursement.

-The district opened a daycare center for employees, but for quite some time after it opened, the only child who benefited was Hailey's grandson.

-Hailey's daughter's boyfriend was hired to do mowing work for the district, again with no bids and with hefty payments that continued during winter months when no mowing was being done.

There was at least one thing Hailey did that was not done with the board's okay.

District sources tell the Turner Report Hailey used the district credit card to buy a wedding dress for her daughter to the tune of approximately $800. Hailey told the board it was a mistake, but reportedly has made no effort to repay the money.

Whistleblowers contacted the state auditor's office in 2024, but were unable to get anything done because at that time they would have to circulate petitions in order to have an audit.

A change in Missouri law now allows the state auditor's office to investigated public corruption without having to go through the petition process.