Retired school leader gets to keep money an audit says he might have taken illegally

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The former superintendent for Monroe public schools might have broken state and federal law when he took more than $257,000 from the system over a period of nine years, according to a recent audit.

But because the Monroe City School Board has agreed not to pursue legal action, Brent Vidrine apparently gets to keep the money and has retired with his benefits intact. It remains to be seen whether he will see any criminal consequences.

Like most employees, Vidrine had money withheld from each of his paychecks for retirement. Previous Monroe City Schools superintendents had contracts that called for the school board to reimburse them for this money, but Vidrine did not.

The audit found that Vidrine began receiving a monthly allowance starting to cover his withheld salary for payments to the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). The payments began in June 2014, one year after he took the superintendent’s job, increased each time he received a pay raise and continued until October 2023. Over that nine-year span, he received $141,717.66 that wasn’t called for in his contract.

The Illuminator tried to reach Vidrine and left a message with the person who answered his phone. Attempts were made to contact Vidrine’s attorney, who did not respond.

School board payroll records show Vidrine signed a handwritten calculation of his salary in May 2014 that included the TRSL allowance, according to the audit report. Several board employees reviewed the handwritten document and told the audit staff the handwriting was from “a now-deceased former employee” who wasn’t identified.

Vidrine also received $115,000 from 2021 to 2022 in approved payments for retirement credit purchases. The money is basically a pass-through benefit that is supposed to go straight to the state teachers’ retirement system.

The audit discovered Vidrine placed $115,000 into his personal bank account, with deposits dated Aug. 9, 2021, and March 28, 2022. There are no records from the retirement system or the school board showing TRSL ever received the money.

Vidrine’s bank records show he paid $108,250 to the U.S. Treasury on April 22, 2022, but the audit did not specify the reason for the payment.

The Monroe City School Board hired Vidrine in 2013 as superintendent and renewed his contract six times. In 2023, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor began an investigation, and the board placed Vidrine on paid administrative leave in October after a vote to suspend him without pay failed.

The audit was initiated after the Legislative Auditor received a complaint from an unnamed school board member, according to Kevin Kelley, an LLA investigative audit senior manager.

The school board then entered into a retirement settlement with Vidrine that same month. Its terms say the board cannot take the former superintendent to court.

Vidrine officially retired within days of the settlement being signed.

Under the settlement, both Vidrine and the school system agreed not to pursue legal action regarding any misconduct or contractual breach from either party during the time that Vidrine served as superintendent.

The settlement required him to pay $115,607.63 back to the school board within 72 hours of the deal being signed. The amount covered what Vidrine reportedly took in retirement credits, according to the audit.

However, the board paid Vidrine $82,766.06 for nearly a month of accrued sick leave and more than two months of vacation days upon retirement. It allowed him to recoup more than 70% of what he had to return to the school system.

The board also paid Vidrine a portion of what he would have received on his “sales tax check,” which school system staff typically receive in June. The school system provides the supplemental pay to its staff from local sales tax collections.

The audit did not determine the amount of Vidrine’s sales tax check.

Additionally, as part of the settlement, Vidrine was able to keep his retirement benefits with the school system, and he also received $52,000 in retirement credits. A portion of his health insurance continues to be covered, and Vidrine had his attorney fees covered up to $10,000.

School board members voted 6-1 on Oct. 30 to approve the settlement.

Brenda Shelling, who remains on the board, was the only member who voted against the settlement. She did not respond to emails requesting comment.

The school board might have entered into the agreement with Vidrine because they were at fault for a contractual breach as well. According to documents Vidrine’s attorney, P. Scott Wolleson, submitted in response to the audit, the board failed to purchase retirement credits for Vidrine.

The documents also indicate there were issues with how the school system filled out Vidrine’s tax records.

The audit noted at several points that Vidrine could have violated state and federal law, a claim his attorney called “improper legal conclusions that exceed the authority granted to the legislative auditor.”

Kelley with the Legislative Auditor said its reports have included these types of statements for years. He further supported the process, saying all facts were laid out in the audit and the term “may” not “did” was used so the public can make its own conclusions.

The auditor turned its findings over to Ouachita Parish District Attorney Robert Tew, who has recused himself from the case because he has represented Vidrine in the past.

It is unclear whether anyone else will prosecute the case. Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office did not comment, citing an ongoing investigation.