A former operations director at Par Excellence Academy in Newark has been found liable for tens of thousands of dollars in questionable expenditures, according to a recent audit report. The Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber's State Special Investigations Unit (SIU) pinpointed Richard Volzke as having made improper purchases with a school credit card, totaling findings for recovery at $57,475.27.
The special audit covered Par Excellence's financial activities between July 2017 and April 2020. During this period, Volzke allegedly made these unauthorized transactions, received a duplicate reimbursement, and incurred additional charges, including interest, late fees, and over-the-limit fees for the school’s credit card account. Also noted, he accepted a severance payment for unused sick leave contrary to the school’s established policies. Gisele James, the academy’s superintendent, was found jointly responsible for $3,530 of those fees related to the sick leave payouts, which lacked the necessary formal board approval.
This investigation began in March 2017 after a complaint was lodged concerning the misuse of school payment cards. Despite the substantial findings for recovery against Volzke who served from June 2016 until March 2020, there was "insufficient evidence to meet the standards for recommending criminal charges in the case," according to the Ohio Auditor’s report. The full details of the audit can be accessed online, providing further insight into the fiscal mismanagement uncovered during the review period.
The Ohio Auditor's Office, led by Auditor Keith Faber, undertakes the responsibility of auditing over 5,900 state and local government entities. The office is committed to identifying and combating fraud in public agencies and fostering transparency. Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has contributed to 147 convictions, securing upwards of $16 million in restitution for such frauds. Whistleblowers can anonymously submit tips of suspected wrongdoing either online or through the SIU’s fraud hotline.
For more detailed information on the findings against Volzke and Par Excellence Academy's financial audit, the public is encouraged to visit the Auditor of State’s website. Inquiries pertaining to the case can be directed to Marc Kovac, the point of contact for the Auditor's Office public affairs.
Editor's Note: The headline of this article has been updated to clarify the institution involved in the audit.
