Charter School Treasurer

This is the same treasurer that is/was used by Ohio Connections Academy.  I wonder how many other charter schools she served as the acting treasurer.

Trial is coming up soon.

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -

A warrant that was briefly issued for the two women who were indicted for stealing from an Over-the-Rhine school has been recalled.

Lisa Hamm and Stephanie Millard are both facing 26 counts of theft in office, tampering with records, tampering with evidence and unauthorized use of property for taking property from the Ohio Department of Education and/or the Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy.

The indictment comes after an investigation by the state auditor's office.

The pair were scheduled to appear in Hamilton County court on Friday morning. Neither showed up so the judge issued a warrant for their arrests.

Attorney Mike Allen tells FOX19 that his clients didn't receive any notice that they were due in court.

The defense and prosecution came to an agreement to withdraw the warrant and their case has been moved to Friday, April 22.

According to the indictment that was filed in Hamilton County, the incidents took place from October 2006 until February of this year. Hamm is accused of taking more than 20 trips with staff and family members, some for training purposes but most for "best practice visits," and spending way over the allotted fund amounts approved by the board. Millard, the school's contracted treasurer, paid each month's credit card bills without the knowledge of board members.

The alleged misspent money totals more than $148,000.

Court documents state that among Hamm's trips was a $20,000, 10-day tour through California which covered expenses such as a rental car with a hired drivers, expensive meals and hotel stays above and beyond what was required for her training in San Diego. On other occasion, Hamm was supposed to make visits to Chicago charter schools but attended a Tina Turner concert instead. Hamm also coordinated a trip to Boston to see Oprah Winfrey and took a sight seeing tour of Europe when the purpose of her trip was to fulfill residency requirements for her doctorate program.

According to the school's website, Hamm is the superintendent, founder and developer of the school, which opened in 1999. The school has an enrollment of 700 students in grades K-12.

Hamm has been suspended without pay.

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