Financial Shenanigans at CA Schools

Misappropriation of funds

SANTA ANA – Orange County's largest school district has been ordered to repay $2.7 million that it illegally debited from its student meal program over the past five years, just one finding in a sweeping state audit released Wednesday that examines misuse of money intended to feed impoverished children.

In one instance, the Santa Ana Unified School District billed a $301,000 kitchen roof repair to its student meal program, even after being informed by state officials twice – in writing and in person – that student meal funds could not legally be used to fix the central kitchen's roof.