Texas DPS Investigating Tornillo Superintendent For Use Of District Funds
The Department of Public Safety has confirmed they are investigating Tornillo Superintendent Paul Vranish for his use of district funds.
DPS is not the only state entity looking into the district leader. The Texas Education Agency, prompted by a complaint from Tornillo resident Ricardo Hernandez, audited Vranish. The audit’s preliminary report shows Vranish and his wife were reimbursed $117,394 by the district for purchases in fiscal year 2011. Vranish is paid $116,750 annually, according to his contract.
Vranish referred ABC-7 to his lawyer, Jim Darnell, who has not returned ABC-7’s phone calls.
“I’m a taxpayer. And the money is for the kids. All this money is for education, not for his personal use,” said Hernandez, who also told ABC-7 he alerted the DPS of the what he sees as questionable use of district funds by Vranish.
DPS would not comment further on the investigation.
TEA Spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said the agency will refer the case to law enforcement if it’s determined Vranish broke the law.
“If we find evidence of wrongdoing that requires further investigation under the Texas penal code, it would be referred to the appropriate criminal authorities,” she said in a phone interview Monday.
Vranish has until March 27 to respond to the audit. After that, the agency has an indefinite amount of time to review Vranish’s response and release the final audit report.
“Anytime you’re dealing with the public’s money, and that’s what this is, it is public tax dollars and it’s important to have a very high level of transparency and also that all transactions and dealings with the public’s money be conducted in an above board and honest manner,” Culbertson said.
TEA’s preliminary report states Vranish may have broken the law.
“Because the superintendent is charged with protecting the district’s assets and using them for the benefit of the district’s students, but instead used them in a reckless manner, he may be in violation of the Texas Penal Code,” the report states.
The audit, so far, found that in several reimbursements, receipts were not provided by Vranish or his wife and purchase orders (which help the school district track its budget) were made only after the superintendent had already made the purchases. Vranish’s wife also is an employee of Tornillo ISD.
The report also states that in some cases, Vranish’s granted requests for reimbursements “lacked documentation to support their validity as school expenses.”
A Tornillo ISD employee, who told ABC-7 she worked in central office but refused to provide her name, said she does not believe Vranish has wronged the district.
“Whoever put this on him. They know that they’re lying. In order for him to spend any kind of money, it has to go through about five people. There is no way he can steal. They’re liars,” the woman said.
Hernandez said the investigation will reveal Vranish has abused his position.
“He should return the money and resign. They (Tornillo residents) don’t have to listen to me,” Hernandez said. “They don’t have to listen to him. It’s time to look at the facts.”
