Hillsborough School Board spending $40,000 annually on travel
From Sunshine Review
July 16, 2007
The Hillsborough County School Board, the nation's eighth-largest school district, imposed a travel moratorium on itself until it can set up both guidelines and a travel budget. The board currently does not have guidelines in place, with it's seven members spending $40,000 annually on travel costs.
"We have people who are spending more than their fair share," Chairwoman Jennifer Faliero told fellow board members in pushing for the moratorium. Later she confirmed she was referring to member Susan Valdes' expenses.[1]
Valdes spent $13,513 in 2006-07 and $10,503 in 2007-08 on travel, school district records show while other board members spent an average of $1,500 to $7,500.
Valdes defended herself, saying she has cut back her spending after earlier criticism. As a rookie board member, she said, she had been encouraged by other members to travel to gain experience.
