The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Barbara Byrd Bennett" ...
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School Bus Bloat 2005
For over fourteen months the reporters investigated the Cleveland Municipal School District's transportation department, producing 25 stories. The reports examined extensive waste of resources, mismanagement, and fraudulent use of inflated data. Reporter Tom Merriman used records, surveillance video, and interviews with ex-employees to document the district was inflating rider numbers to get more funding. School administrators blamed the mid-level bureaucrat they fired, but Merriman used internal documents to show he was ordered to inflate the numbers. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spend on luxury coaches for athletes. The investigation lead to the resignation of a top official in the organization.
Tags: Cleveland Municipal School District; transportation; fraud; school buses; Ohio Board of Education; Barbara Byrd Bennett; state transportation funding
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School Bus Bloat
The Cleveland Municipal School District went under fire after spending more than $3 million to pay 206 spare school bus drivers, most of whom spent the day playing pool and charades in the bus depot. This investigation found that transportation supervisors were unable to account for the whereabouts of more than half of the spare drivers on a typical day. In one case, the I-team found one driver who spent the entire day using the school bus to take his wife on daily errands. As a result of this report, the mayor put pressure on School District CEO Barbara Byrd Bennett to reform the program and eventually audit the transportation department.
Tags: Cleveland Municipal School District; spare bus drivers; school transportation