State Investigating Ex-Glover Principal District 81 Found Financial ‘Irregularities’ By Phil Newsum

The former principal of Glover Middle School remains under investigation by the state for alleged financial mismanagement.

Phil Newsum, who abruptly resigned as Glover’s principal last December, allegedly spent money raised from a student bake sale, used a school credit card to buy inappropriate items and illegally applied for a gas credit card in the school’s name.

Spokane School District 81 turned over its investigation to the state auditor’s office in February.

“Yes, we are continuing our investigation,” said Mindy Chambers, spokeswoman for the state auditor’s office.

The nature of Newsum’s financial problems with the district were made public recently when Newsum dropped his lawsuit against the district to prevent it from releasing documents to The Spokesman-Review.

Newsum, who does not have a published phone number, could not be reached for comment.

In February, the newspaper sought the release of documents surrounding Newsum’s departure. In response, Newsum sought a temporary restraining order against the school district to prevent their release and was granted it. Newsum then sought a permanent injunction; however, a Spokane County Superior Court judge ruled the documents were public record. Newsum then filed an appeal, which he recently dropped.

The documents that were released included a three-page letter written by Newsum’s former boss, Mike Dunn, who is District 81’s northwest area schools director.

The letter lists seven instances of financial “irregularities” involving Newsum.

Dunn chronicled how $200 in student bake sale proceeds were discovered missing from the school safe in October 1999. Dunn noted that Newsum admitted that he took the money, but said he did so to buy equipment for a school program. However, Dunn wrote, Newsum didn’t purchase the equipment until two days after admitting taking the money.

Then in December, $600 was discovered missing from the safe, money that was raised from a science fund-raiser. According to Dunn’s letter, Newsum said he had no knowledge how the money disappeared.

Dunn also chronicled how Newsum cashed a check for a Glover account, but did not immediately deposit the money. Newsum also purchased athletic equipment, which hadn’t been approved, with a school credit card, as well as a personal item from Burgan’s Furniture store, the letter says. Newsum later paid back the charges that were made to the credit card.

Newsum allegedly applied for an Exxon gas credit card “in his capacity as the principal of Glover Middle School,” though the card was never issued. He also allegedly kept the district’s travel credit card longer than approved and bought gas for his own vehicle. But Dunn notes that Newsum paid back the gas purchase when he turned in the card.

Newsum, who had served as Glover’s principal since 1995, resigned Dec. 22 by submitting a hand-written letter with one sentence saying he wanted to “pursue other interests outside of public education.” On Dec. 13, he had received a letter from Barb Wright, assistant superintendent of human resources, informing him that the district’s investigation would be forwarded to the state auditor.

The investigation hasn’t been forwarded to the Office of Professional Practices within the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Superintendent Gary Livingston said district officials decided it was more appropriate to refer it to the Auditor’s Office.