DPS payroll supervisor on leave after allegations of altering records

Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb on Tuesday placed a payroll supervisor on unpaid administrative leave following allegations the supervisor altered payroll records.

"The program supervisor, who has held the responsibility of running the Detroit Public Schools payroll for a period of six years, is alleged to have altered his own payroll records in the process of processing the district's Feb 26 payroll, reducing the number of vacation days to be deducted during that time," officials said in a statement. "A district employee initially noted an inconsistency in records and reported it to administrators."

The employee is on leave pending a hearing before the DPS Division of Human Resources. Bobb also said the payroll office is one of several divisions that will be part of a forensic audit in upcoming weeks.

The moves come as Bobb, in his second week on the job, seeks to improve operations.

Last week, Bobb said he planned to employ an inspector general position to manage the forensic audits in the district, reversing a decision by the school board. The inspector general also will review confidential information and develop internal auditing functions, he said.

And in a letter to staff Thursday, Bobb said he also planned to implement a telephone hot line and create other communications mechanisms to allow staff to give him confidential input.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed Bobb for a yearlong stint to straighten out DPS finances. The district previously estimated its deficit for fiscal year 2008 at nearly $140 million; last week, Bobb said that figure could be more than $150 million.