The State Auditor has found several questionable expenditures related to the Reading First Program. These include three payments ($720) to the daughter and two payments ($150) to the son of the Section Chief of the program. Reading First also purchased 400 tote bags for $2,000, 80 rolling totes for over $2500, and items from Bath and Body Works for $80.
How were these payments made? The old fashioned way. According to the audit, the Section Chief kept state money in a “special fund” with Upton Associates, Inc., a Reading First vendor. DPI promises corrective action.
