MARK KIESLING: It's past time for expenditure policy at PHS

At the risk of sounding too much like a Hoosier, there's nothing like closing the barn door after the horse already has gotten out.

Fortunately for the Portage Township Schools system, the horse has agreed to return to the barn.

Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez, who was beaten in the Nov. 8 election by her Republican rival, took $500 from the school system for a four-person ticket to a golf outing that was in effect a campaign fundraiser.

After discovering the contribution was illegal, Velazquez returned the $500 to the schools (as if there were any other option).

However, it forced the School Board to take a long, hard look at its policy about where it spends its money, and deservedly so.

The board now is kicking around a number of options, including — amazingly enough — that any money raised in the school's name be used solely for the benefit of students.

What a concept.

What I don't get is the reaction of some of the board members to the expenditure, although all now agree (some under duress) that maybe it was not the wisest thing to do.

Superintendent Mike Berta said he was aware the foursome was playing and that he thought of it more as a community event than a political fundraiser.

Well, maybe. But when I get an invitation for a $100 mayoral golf outing (which I sometimes do, and, no, I do not go) I've got a pretty good idea where that $100 is going to be spent.

Plus, four people from the athletic department, out of which the funds came, got the day off to play golf, although Berta now says they somehow will make up that day.

He said he hoped to build relationships with people who would be in a position to help the schools, which is not an illogical stance.

Unless that person is the mayor or a council member. Maybe they are in a position to help the schools, but they also need money to run their campaigns.

Those tasteful yard signs do not buy themselves.

"I don't think anyone meant to do anything wrong," said board member Rhonda Nelson. "But we should have a policy."

She's probably right. At least I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt on this one, particularly as there currently is no policy, so there is no direction.

Yet now that they know that what was done was illegal, it's time to get on the horse and get it back into the barn.

The board will meet Nov. 28 to consider a policy proposal, Berta hoped, and if not, then by the December meeting.

It can't be done quickly enough. When a board or a school athletic department is unclear when asked to buy mayoral golf tickets, it's time to spell it out in black and white.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at mark.kiesling@nwi.com or (219) 933-4170.