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Bishop State Finance Director Terminated

MOBILE, Ala.

The business manager at Bishop State Community College has been placed on administrative leave and is in the process of being terminated for various reasons, including failure to effectively manage her office.

Interim president James Lowe informed Barbara Smith about the termination proceedings in an Oct. 24 letter that was released Thursday.

Lowe said she failed to implement or confirm adequate financial processes and controls since 1993 and did not cooperate with the school’s financial aid office.

He also cited destruction of college property and high turnover, complaints from employees and inadequate organization of records, duties and procedures in business office as reasons Smith was being fired.

Smith’s departure is the latest development at the troubled Mobile college where at least $400,000 in questioned costs have been found. More than 25 employees including the school’s financial aid director and their relatives have been charged with theft on suspicion of getting federal aid fraudulently.

Federal financial aid money had been cut off at the school for nearly a year, but funds resumed earlier this month.



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