Three years after Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High
School District 128 administrators began issuing special credit cards
to some employees, officials are considering adopting formal rules
governing their use.
The cards, known as procurement cards or p-cards, allow
teachers, administrators or other staffers to make school-related
purchases. Before the cards were introduced in 2005, employees had to
use their own money or credit cards and seek reimbursement.
Employees using the cards have had to follow
administrative procedures thus far, but a stricter board policy hasn't
been considered until now, said Yasmine Dada, the district's assistant
superintendent for business.
The newly proposed policy, which was developed by the
Illinois Association of School Administrators, spells out nine rules.
In part, it says:
- Official credit and procurement cards cannot be used for personal purchases and must be limited to job-related expenses.
- The superintendent shall limit the amount each cardholder may charge in a single purchase or within a given month.
- Cardholders must submit original, itemized receipts for all purchases.
- The cards can be used to make purchases by phone or on
the Internet, but only after the exchange is approved by the
superintendent or Dada, who has overseen the program.
Consequences for unauthorized transactions could
include reimbursing the district for the purchase amount, loss of card
privileges and dismissal.
The school board's program and personnel committee
reviewed the rules Monday night. The full board could discuss the
matter at its Aug. 25 meeting.
Source: Wednesday's Daily Herald and www.dailyherald.com.