An Elizabethton High School teacher received a three-day suspension after school officials said she failed to follow school system procedure regarding an athletic fundraiser.
Members of the Elizabethton City School Board approved the suspension for EHS teacher Leslee Bradley during the group’s meeting on Tuesday evening. School officials said Bradley failed to file the proper fundraiser form required under school policy and get permission to hold the fundraiser.
Bradley, head coach of the volleyball team, allowed a parent to privately purchase $2,300 worth of merchandise to be sold as a fundraiser for the team without prior authorization from the athletic director, EHS principal or director of schools.
According to a disciplinary action letter filed by Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour, this decision violated two school policies and required restitution by the teacher to the Athletic Department.
One of the violated policies, 2.404, states that only an organization that has entered into a written cooperative agreement with the Board may use the name, mascot or logo of the school to raise money.
The other, Policy 2.800, states that all expenditures shall be approved by the Board or director of schools and they must be in accord with the system’s accounting procedure. It also requires that employees who authorize for any obligation in violation of this policy shall assume personal responsibility for the payment and may be subject to dismissal.
“It is important to note that the merchandise in question has always been in the possession of the program and has been accounted for by the athletic department,” an official statement issued by Elizabethton City School System said. “Our issue was adherence to procurement procedures. We have clearly communicated our expectations for how we are to do business in the future.”
Bradley’s suspension went into effect on Wednesday and will continue through Friday.