Ohio Auditor Seeks $480,135 Recovery From Former Charter School Manager

The Ohio Auditor of State issued findings for recovery totaling $480,135.23 against Michelle Scott, the former business manager of Westside Academy, and her bonding company. The findings followed a special investigation into the misuse of public resources at the Columbus charter school. The reported total comprises $363,384.44 in court-ordered restitution and an additional $116,750.79 in misappropriated or uncollected funds attributed to Scott’s actions. The recovery finding is a public-funds accountability action, not a solicitation or award, but the case offers a relevant control-risk signal for contractors and organizations that do business with public schools and local government entities.

The Auditor’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) began investigating after receiving a complaint in March 2023 alleging potential fraud by Scott. According to the press release, the investigation identified unauthorized payments to Scott’s personal bank accounts, personal purchases on the academy’s credit card, and unallowable tuition reimbursements. Scott also used false vendor names and altered credit-card statements in an effort to conceal the activity. For vendors and service providers, the methods described reinforce the importance of traceable purchasing records, independent verification of vendor identities and payment destinations, and controls that prevent one employee from initiating, approving, and reconciling transactions without oversight.

The legal timeline demonstrates that investigations and recovery actions can extend well beyond the period in which questionable transactions occur. Scott was indicted in April 2025, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to a felony theft in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, and was sentenced the following month to four years in prison. She has paid $3,000 toward her court-ordered restitution. Scott and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for the findings in the special audit report. The bonding-company liability is a notable risk-management consideration for school operators and contractors: bonding arrangements can be part of the accountability framework, but they do not replace segregation of duties, documented approvals, or ongoing transaction review.

For GovCon firms serving K–12 education, charter schools, or other public entities, the practical implication is to verify that contract-related expenditures follow the customer’s authorization rules and that invoices, reimbursements, and card transactions can be supported with accurate documentation. Firms should make sure staff understand who may approve purchases, how vendor changes are authenticated, and how supporting records are retained. The case also highlights the value of promptly escalating unusual payment activity and maintaining a clear audit trail across subcontractors, reimbursements, and purchasing-card transactions. The Auditor’s Office said its SIU has assisted in 172 convictions since 2019, resulting in more than $18.1 million in restitution, and receives hundreds of suspected-fraud tips annually—an indication that public-sector integrity oversight remains active.

• The recovery finding totals $480,135.23: $363,384.44 in court-ordered restitution plus $116,750.79 in misappropriated or uncollected funds.
• Michelle Scott, former Westside Academy business manager, pleaded guilty to felony theft in March 2026 and was sentenced to four years in prison the following month.
• The investigation identified unauthorized payments to personal bank accounts, personal purchases using the academy credit card, and unallowable tuition reimbursements.
• Investigators reported that false vendor names and altered credit-card statements were used to conceal the activity, making vendor verification and statement reconciliation material control priorities.
• Scott has paid $3,000 toward her court-ordered restitution; Scott and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for the findings for recovery.
• Public-school contractors should review payment approval, purchasing-card, vendor-onboarding, reimbursement, and record-retention controls for work performed under public contracts.
• Organizations serving schools should assess whether employee bonding practices align with their risk profile while maintaining independent approvals and transaction monitoring.
• The Auditor’s Special Investigations Unit received the complaint in March 2023; the office reports 172 convictions and more than $18.1 million in restitution since 2019.
• The Auditor’s Office audits more than 5,900 Ohio state and local government agencies and accepts suspected-fraud tips anonymously online or through its hotline.