Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts

“Richmond board wants fast action on Patrick Henry.” Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), 6/15/2011

Faced with a Virginia State Police investigation into possible embezzlement at Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, the Richmond School Board wants an immediate audit of the school's finances for its first year of operation...

State police have not released details of their investigation, but a former Patrick Henry treasurer approached the law-enforcement agency through an intermediary in March with concerns about a student activity fund controlled by the school's principal under the school district's tax identification number.

Last week, an audit of the fund by the school system found no evidence of fraud but serious mismanagement of the money by the school's administration...

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“Richmond charter school focus of state police investigation.” Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), 6/8/2011

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia State Police are investigating an allegation of embezzlement at Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, a charter school in South Richmond that is completing its first year of operation.

State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller confirmed Wednesday that the Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Richmond field office is conducting the investigation.

M. Susan Martin, former treasurer of the charter school, said she approached state police through an intermediary in March about her concerns over the management of student activity funds controlled by the school's principal and Richmond Public Schools. About the same time, Martin raised concerns about the funds in a letter on March 14 to Richmond Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon and urged her to audit the two bank accounts opened by Principal Pamela L. Boyd.

The accounts were opened under the public school system's tax identification number and are not controlled by the charter school's board of directors, Martin said.

Martin, a certified public accountant who completed her term as treasurer at the end of August, first raised concerns about the funds in late January while assisting the charter school's audit and budget committee...