(MyFoxBoston.com) -- FOX25 investigates is learning more about the Brockton Public School employees the state says got free or reduced after-school daycare while other parents were paying up.
Those employees are now paying close to $10,000 in restitution. Reporter Kerry Kavanaugh investigated the reason the school district says their employees had no idea they were doing anything wrong.
FOX25 has been following this investigation since the summer. Families needing after school care for their children can pay up to $640 a month for Brockton schools' after-school program.
But, according to a state review of that program, some employees were getting daycare discounts that they didn't qualify for.
The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care conducted a review of the Brockton school's Smart Start Extended Day Program. It began last summer after allegations surfaced of district employees getting free or reduced after-school daycare.
FOX25 Investigates obtained the results of that review that show "four Brockton Public School employees and one former employee" didn't pay their fair share.
The state audit shows some received credits, others made no tuition payments for weeks and it added up to nearly $10,000 the families now need to pay back.
The vice chair of the Brockton School Committee told FOX25 that it is their understanding the employees were unaware of any impropriety and that the former program administrator misinformed them about the costs.
Though Brockton Public Schools' "Extended Day Policy Handbook 2014-2015" includes the weekly tuition rates.
Superintendent Kathleen Smith said the district employees thought they were receiving scholarships. In an emailed statement, Smith said an administrator, who has since been terminated, said, in-part, "...offered unsanctioned price breaks for child care to five families taking part in the program."
She says the school district has submitted to the state an action plan to "...address outstanding parent fees and a strategy to prevent abuse of reduced or free care in the future."
The superintendent says they have new policies on contract management oversight and that they're reviewing internal controls. The state is currently reviewing Brockton school's action plan.
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