He stands accused of receiving more than $15,000 in connection to falsified records and personal checks and cash from district vendors, employees and school board members.
Schroer pleaded not guilty and remains free on his own recognizance. The court also issued that Schroer have no contact with the Springboro school district.
In October 2019, the Ohio Auditor of State opened an investigation into Schroer after an accounting firm for the school district reported inconsistencies with sick leave, vacation days and mileage reimbursements Schroer submitted, according to Fornshell.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
The investigation found Schroer falsified records 16 times. Using cell phone tower data, credit card and ATM records and other evidence, investigators determined Schroer was reimbursed $1,291.66 for travel that either didn’t happen or was not related to the district.
Investigators also referred Schroer to the Ohio Ethics Commission after finding other financial irregularities. Ohio Ethics Commission investigators found that Schroer solicited and received $4,500 in personal loans from three employees he was considering for administrative positions for the district, according to Fornshell.
He reportedly received $3,500 in personal loans from three vendors, Helping Others Prepare for Excellence (HOPE), Strategos Group and CF Educational Solutions, who were doing or wanted to do business with the school district.
Schroer is also accused of soliciting and receiving $6,800 in cash from board of education members Dave Stuckey and Charles Anderson.
Superintendents are required to disclose finances, including any loans of more than $1,000, to the Ohio Ethics Commission, according to Fornshell.
He resigned from Springboro Community City Schools in 2019 after reaching a $115,000 separation agreement with the district. The agreement came two weeks after he was placed on leave.
Springboro Schools issued a statement acknowledging the indictment of Schroer and said he “is no longer employed by Springboro Schools, as the Board accepted his resignation on Aug. 30, 2019, following an internal investigation, in order to avoid the cost of litigation.
The statement also said it will continue to cooperate in full with the county prosecutor’s office “as necessary and required in order to protect the financial interests of the district and its community members.”
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