Tennessee’s forensic audit of Memphis Shelby County Schools will delve into allegations by key Republican lawmakers that the school district is destroying information in advance of a state audit.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton contacted Comptroller Jason Mumpower about the allegations as the state prepares to start a $6 million forensic audit of the school July 17, according to spokesman John Dunn.
“We certainly take them seriously, and we’ll consider them as we move forward with evaluating and selecting the firm that will do the forensic audit of MSCS,” Dunn said.
In a statement posted Friday on social media, Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said, “Hearing Shelby County Schools is destroying documents ahead of the forensic audit – this is a crime! @TNCOT (Comptroller) has been notified. Those tampering with or destroying public records will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Sexton and McNally provided no specific details of the accusations. McNally spokesman Adam Kleinheider said they made the statement “after reliable sources indicated that the system may be destroying or deleting documents.”