# Ohio Auditor Issues $480K Recovery Finding

Ohio’s Auditor of State issued findings for recovery totaling $480,135.23 against former Westside Academy business manager Michelle Scott and her bonding company. The investigation documented unauthorized payments, personal purchases on an academy credit card, and improper tuition reimbursements. This is a public-funds accountability signal, not a contract opportunity; for procurement teams and contractors serving public schools, it highlights the importance of clear payment authorization, vendor verification, card controls, and employee bonding practices.

- Public-school contractors should review the payment approval and purchasing-card controls used in their work with schools, particularly authorization and vendor verification procedures.
- Organizations providing services to schools may benefit from checking that employee bonding arrangements and internal controls align with their risk-management practices.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 20, 2026

### Government Entities
- Ohio Auditor of State (AOS)
- Westside Academy

### Sources
- [Press Releases](https://ohioauditor.gov/news/pressreleases/Details/7963) - OHIO