Grand Jury Conducting Inquiry of School System Finances

The Stephens County grand jury is taking a look at the financial problems that have engulfed the Stephens County school system.

Court officials report the grand jury called in and met with the entire current Stephens County Board of Education last week.

Current Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey was also called in to speak to the grand jury last week.

“I got asked to come in and give a report, what happened, how are you going to prevent it from happening again,” said Dorsey.

According to court officials, the grand jury has also called in others, including former School Superintendent Sherrie Whiten, former Finance Director Annah Dodge, former Assistant Superintendent Jason Kaup, and former Assistant Superintendent and current Stephens County High School Principal Sandy Steele.

They are all scheduled to appear before the grand jury next Wednesday, October 1.

Court officials said the grand jury is meeting with all of these individuals as part of a fact-finding inquiry into the financial issues that came to light earlier this year regarding the Stephens County school system.

A grand jury is allowed to inquire about anything it wishes to during its term, which lasts for a period of six months, and inquiries do not have to be regarding illegal activity.

Typically, any report compiled by a grand jury is released and made public at the end of its term.

This current Stephens County grand jury’s term runs through December 31.