Mary Davis, principal of Fields Store Elementary School in Waller, was suspended without pay while a continuing investigation into “inappropriate use” of school district funds takes place, according to a letter sent home to parents.

In the letter, dated Feb.17, Waller ISD Superintendent Richard McReavy wrote that both the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Waller County Sheriff’s Office are working with Waller ISD “to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged inappropriate use of school district funds.”

Assistant principal Claudia Mordecai has replaced Davis as interim principal while the investigation continues.

Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith said the sheriff’s office began investigating the situation Feb. 18 after meeting with school district officials and will know more once they get through all the evidence.

“We have to look at every check, who signed the back, subpoena records,” Smith said. “We’re diligently working on it daily. I figure in another week we’ll have a handle on it.”

Discrepancies in checks and accounting in the school’s “Activities” fund, which is used to purchase anything from “landscaping to lunches” tipped off the investigation.

Smith said checks were written without descriptions, items purchased from checks were nowhere to be found at the school and some checks were made out to businesses that have “family relationships” with Davis.

He said the sheriff’s office is not certain yet how much money was used improperly, but said it is “several thousand” so far.

Smith said he will speak with Davis regarding the investigation.

“Mrs. Davis will have the opportunity to come talk to us, she hasn’t refused to, but we haven’t asked her yet,” he said. “We want to get a handle on it (the investigation) first.”

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