Sequoyah County school district under investigation

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) _ State authorities are investigating Central School Superintendent Donna Cupp after suspicious purchases totaling $90,000. <br><br>State Auditor and Inspector Clifton Scott said Tuesday

Wednesday, July 10th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) _ State authorities are investigating Central School Superintendent Donna Cupp after suspicious purchases totaling $90,000.

State Auditor and Inspector Clifton Scott said Tuesday that his office received a request in May from District Attorney Dianne Barker-Harrold to audit the school.

The prosecutor's letter named Cupp as a suspect concerning the missing funds and altered bank statements.

Cupp, who was unavailable for comment, was suspended with pay June 19.

She has been employed for six years as a counselor and superintendent with Central School, a rural district with 539 students.

The complaint says credit-card purchases at Wal-Mart were made for building materials, a side-by-side refrigerator, cat and dog food and makeup. It also says $20,000 is missing from the general fund and about $70,000 is missing from the activity fund.

One check made out to the school was cashed at a local check-cashing business.