LANSING - The Michigan Department of Education said the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System did not violate any policies after giving out gift cards to staff members during the 2017-18 school year.
The Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System Superintendent Rane Garcia came under scrutiny for using $25,000 to purchase gift cards for district staff, including teachers and outside contractors.
The school board believed the gift may have been a violation of Michigan School Code, and the Michigan Department of Education requested that the Muksegon Area ISD investigate the use of gift cards by the district.
Muskegon ISD contracted the investigation to an independent law firm, and Thrun Law Firm determined, "that the gift card purchase was for an educational purpose. It did not violate school policy nor violate any employment or other contracts."
The law firm reported that “it does not appear that Superintendent Garcia intended to violate any policies, contracts, or laws through the issuance of the gift cards. A preponderance of the evidence available indicates that she issued the gift cards to retain Academy teachers and staff.”
The purchase was made with public funds, though, and is considered a technical infraction. But the law firm says the infraction "was not egregious."
The Michigan Department of Education will request that the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System submit an action plan to address the findings of the report.
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