Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) possesses policies designed to provide both strong financial stewardship and public transparency of its financial affairs. These policies constitute fundamental building blocks of an effectively operated school system and maximize the delivery of educational services and opportunities to students. When a violation of those policies occurs, Warsaw Community Schools will take appropriate and corrective action.

Recently, WCS learned that one of its employees received unlawful kick-back payments from a supplier of materials in exchange for steering business to that particular supplier. Upon receiving this information, school officials promptly conducted an investigation that disclosed irregularities in the purchase of maintenance materials. On Monday, Oct. 27, when confronted concerning these irregularities, Director of Buildings and Grounds Greg Schroeder admitted that for a number of years, a Continental Maintenance Specialities, Inc. sales representative paid him a total of approximately $30,000 in kickback payments. WCS immediately placed Mr. Schroeder on unpaid suspension. At its regularly scheduled school board meeting on Oct. 27, WCS officially terminated Mr. Schroeder’s employment. WCS has also notified proper legal authorities of Mr. Schroeder’s conduct.

The illegal practice of accepting kickbacks deprives our students, educators and community of using financial resources in the most efficient means. This conduct is harmful to WCS and will not be tolerated. WCS will assist with any investigation undertaken by legal authorities, as well as comply with both federal and state privacy laws; this will be WCS’s last statement concerning this matter. Rest assured, however, when WCS learns of any financial improprieties, swift and candid remedial measures will be taken; our students deserve nothing less.