WALLER COUNTY D.A. CLEARS HEMPSTEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT

  

Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis says he has investigated a complaint from a county constable over plumbing contracts with the Hempstead School district and found nothing to the charges.

Hempstead ISD Supt. Delma Flores Smith forwarded the complaints from Constable Herschel Smith (no relation) to the district attorney’s office in November. 

Herschel Smith said he received reports from citizens complaining about thousands of dollars being misappropriated in the district by administrator Sharon Loukanis .  .

Mathis has completed that investigation and finds there was no criminal or civil wrong doing. Mathis said in a letter released after the investigation:  “After a thorough review they have not found any credible evidence that crimes have been committed.  In fact, some of the concerns presented to my office were easily explained using basic accounting skills.  As far as those particular issues, I am troubled that they made they made it from the front door of the HISD administration building to mine.”

 Mathis says he was asked to make some recommendations.  In the letter he said: “I strongly suggest that if Loukanis  is not returned to her position that the school board spends money on a reputable firm to seek out and hire a highly qualified business office administrator.”  Mathis continued to say: “I cannot stress enough that the business office administrator should be someone who has no connection to any members of the board, the superintendent =, or any HISD employee in a position of authority.” 

Mathis also stated : “The school board should take a more active role in monitoring the hiring and contracting decisions of administrators to endure that nepotism policies are enforced, and that any current or former business associations between administration  and employment are fully disclosed.” 

Mathis also said: “…all expenditures or transfers of school funds should be closely scrutinized by all members of the board and not merely rubber stamped.  I personally consider it’s a problem if a current or former school board member cannot intelligently articulate why any expenditure over $100,00 was made.”