Is the Board of Education justified in spending the resident-approved Measure E bond monies on their current litigation? The Citizens Oversight Committee is asking that question.

The COC is a committee of citizens appointed to audit expenditures related to the $334 million Measure E bond for school site upgrades, retrofitting and modernization voted into effect in Nov. 2008.

Currently, the Beverly Hills Unified School District has been named in a $16 million lawsuit with Strategic Concepts, LLC, stemming from work related to the Measure E bond. Strategic Concepts, under the direction of former BHUSD Director of Facilities Karen Christiansen, was charged with managing all structural projects under the bond. BHUSD has counter-sued the company for $4 million.

District expenditures related to the litigation are currently being paid for by the bond totaling over $200,000.

“Our (legal) council has advised us that it is appropriate for bond monies to pay for litigation directly related to the bond,” said BHUSD Board of Education member Jake Manaster. At present, the COC is blocked from reviewing all legal invoices surrounding litigation, citing attorney/client privilege.

The board is in discussion with the COC to allow a designated representative to review legal invoices and still protect the privacy of the district, said Manaster.

The COC also raises concerns regarding other uses of Measure E Funds.

“They shouldn’t be using Measure E funds as a piggy bank to cover their shortfall for things like staff,” said COC member Todd Okum.

Measure E funds are currently paying for the salary of LaTanya Kirk Carter, interim director of facilities. The COC is perfectly within their right to closely examine whether these funds should be used to pay for her job entirely, said Manaster.

“At the end of the day, I think the board just wants the best possible outcome for the taxpayers who gave us their confidence,” said Manaster.