Music Director May Have To Repay Burlington Public Schools

BURLINGTON, MA -- Superintendent Eric Conti signaled at Tuesday night's School Committee meeting that Music Director John Middleton-Cox may have to repay Burlington Public Schools for purchases made from an unauthorized revolving account. Middleton-Cox had told the School Committee in March that he had never done anything without the best interests of students in mind and that he was the victim of an online campaign to damage his reputation.

"What I can say is we took it very seriously, we're certainly looking at everything, and if there were appropriate actions to be taken we're pursuing those as much as we can," Conti said when Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Myrna Saltman asked if anyone would be disciplined or forced to make restitution for misspent money.

Conti's comment came during a discussion about new accounting procedures. While Middleton-Cox was never mentioned by name at Tuesday night's meeting, he is the only school department official who has been named in meetings regarding the review of accounts in connection with possible misuse of funds.

About 10 Town Meeting members, who are pressuring the school department to revamp its financial accounting to be consistent with the town's record keeping, attended Tuesday's meeting. Several Burlington Town Meeting members have also been pressuring Burlington Public Schools to repay the town for several thousands of dollars in music department spending they believe was spent on noneducational expenses.

When Saltman first asked her question, Chair Kristen Russo said the board would not discuss the issue because it was a personnel matter. Saltman reiterated her question and Conti jumped in.

"So I just think that's one area where we have restrictions on what we can communicate," Conti said. "I apologize for that. I know it's frustrating, but we are looking at that and taking it very seriously."

But both Conti and Russo said if or when restitution is made or if anyone is disciplined, the information would not be released publicly, again citing personnel reasons. The spending included lavish meals and a massage gift card from an unauthorized cash account overseen by Middleton-Cox. While receipts totaling $4,800 covering a three year period were released last month under a public records request, thousands of dollars in spending remain unaccounted for.

The spending, which is believed to total $14,000, was uncovered in a review of the performing arts revolving fund and a subsequent analysis of that review. A review completed in February by Burlington Town Auditor Jim Powers said Middleton-Cox maintained an unauthorized account where he kept at least $14,000 in mostly undocumented revenue that should have been deposited with the town treasurer. Instead, Middleton-Cox kept the money in a separate safe that he and a secretary had access to, and no records were maintained to show where the cash came from or where it was spent.

See the receipts released by Burlington Public Schools in April.

Over the past several months, the school committee and Conti have reiterated claims that new policies and procedures are in place to prevent similar problems in the future. Under a policy outlined at Tuesday's meeting, all of the school department's revolving accounts will be reviewed every three years on a rotating basis. Such reviews would make sure policies are being followed and identify any unauthorized or questionable spending. Powers said Tuesday that the process would start with a preliminary risk assessment of all the revolving accounts.

"I think we have tried to rectify some of the problems with new procedures. I think by putting this regular review, at least for our larger revolving accounts...will insure that going forward that hopefully we've rectified the problems," School Committee member Thomas Murphy said. "It's been a painful few months but I think it's been a productive few months."

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Patch file photo of John Middleton-Cox.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).