A state audit of the Cape Henlopen School District released last week drew attention one of the high school’s administrators.
Chief Administrative Auditor Kathleen Davies says the audit was conducted after her agency received more than one complaint about Dean of Students Bill Collick’s compensation.
"In particular we found some issues with what’s considered double dipping," said Davies.
Collick, who also coaches the high school’s football team, was hired by the school district in 2010. Rules clarifying compensation for state employees were enacted in 2012. The audit shows Collick received payment from both sources after the change, at least for a time.
Davies says some of the details are unclear.
"There was some overlap when the rule went into effect, but the school district may not have necessarily been aware of that. Once the pension office contacted them and they discussed it with the employee, they decided whether they wanted to drop their pension and stay on as an employee or vice versa," said Davies.
Collick did eventually stop receiving pension payments. The Cape Henlopen School Board then raised his salary from $63,000 to more than $100,000 a year.
The state audit also noted an instance where two sisters worked in the same financial office; the audit recommended that their duties be completely separated to avoid any instance of impropriety.
