- 6 - payee and made cash withdrawals for which the record reflects no documented and established business purpose. Business purpose or board authorization is similarly lacking for thousands of dollars of expenditures directed to retail stores, credit card companies, financial institutions, Ms. Fennell’s dentist, and other businesses. Nor does the record suggest any documented system either (1) of loans to and repayments by Ms. Fennell or (2) of loans by Ms. Fennell and reimbursements from the school. State Administrative Proceedings Public education in Texas is overseen by the SBOE, a body of 15 members elected by the voters, and by the commissioner of education, an individual appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State senate. Tex. Educ. Code Ann. secs. 7.051, 7.055, 7.101, 7.102 (Vernon 1996). The SBOE carries out its statutorily prescribed powers and duties, which consist in large part of establishing educational policies, programs, and standards, with the assistance of the commissioner of education. Tex. Educ. Code Ann. sec. 7.102. The commissioner of education, in turn, heads the administrative agency, the Texas Education Agency (TEA or the agency), charged with administering and monitoring compliance with educational programs. Tex. Educ. Code Ann. secs. 7.002, 7.021 (Vernon 1996). In February of 1999, the commissioner of education directed the TEA to conduct a financial status audit of petitioner.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: November 10, 2007