WASHINGTON STATE COMPUTERS STOLEN Audit shows Seattle schools didn't report theft - Seattle News - MyNorthwest.com: Updated Aug 24, 2009 - 6:49 pm
Audit shows Seattle schools didn't report theft

By ERIN COVEY
KIRO Radio

Listen to Erin's report

An audit reveals the Seattle School District lost $500,000 worth of equipment and it didn't tell the state about the losses.

A lawn mower, desktop computers, laptops, a projector screen, and even copper wiring went missing. Many of the losses were stolen from a closed down elementary school and it was reported to police, but no one followed state law by reporting it to the State Auditor's office.

"It's not uncommon for several items to go missing, but this is a lot," said Mindy Chambers, with the State Auditor's office.

David Tucker, with the Seattle school district, says this oversight happened two years ago and wouldn't happen today. "Our district has put in a number of remedies to take care of the situations that were present at that time which are not present today."

Tucker says most of the vandalism took place at the closed Viewlands Elementary in north Seattle, and they've taken measures to ensure a similar situation will not happen again. "We've put in fences, in terms of securing equipment. We've also put in an internal auditor to ensure that information gets to the state auditor."

Chambers says the Seattle school district won't be penalized for the thefts.