State Senator Reginald Murdock Takes In Over $1.5 Million From Forrest City School District
Feb 13, 2025
Murdock is the owner and President of Murdock Enterprises. Records show that from 2002 through 2004, the Forrest City School District (FCSD) paid Murdock Enterprises $71,677.00.
That well went dry for Murdock until Tiffany Hardrick became Superintendent where in May of 2018, she began using Murdock without contract or School Board approval.
Since that time to date the (FCSD) has paid Murdock $1,473,118.61 which gives a total to date of $1,544,795.61….That’s some damn fine water from the Taxpayers’ well !
Have I got your blood warmed up now ?….Well stick with me because by the end of the article your blood will be boiling.
School Boards hire Superintendents for a number of duties…. one of which is overseeing and managing the District’s Taxpayer-funded well.
Her job is to see that the water it produces is distributed fairly. However, all accounts show that Hardrick has put a sign up at the well saying “Murdock Only !” and from the records, it doesn’t look like Murdock is any danger of Dehydration.
Apparently in July of 2018 questions arose about invoices from Murdock. At the Board meeting that month on the 19th, minutes show Hardrick told the Board that Murdock had a “Professional Service Contract” with the District….Huh ?
Here’s the problem with Hardrick’s statement….The District has no record of the contract, bids submitted by Murdock, nor Board approval of the contract.
So did Hardrick lie to the Board ?….How could anyone conclude differently ?
It was not until January 28th, 2021, that the Board took any action in regard to Murdock. Minutes show at that meeting, Hardrick recommended that Murdock be approved as “Construction Manager”, which the Board did by unanimous vote.
Hardrick then signed an agreement with Murdock that very day to seal the deal….a one-page agreement that is a vendor’s dream.
The agreement has no expiration or renewal provision nor a termination or separation clause. Hardrick talked the Board into giving Murdock “the goose who lays the golden eggs”….Only a Fool would not wonder what she’s getting in return.
Fast forward to 2023 where, at request, a Legislative Audit was conducted into the District’s financial reporting and compliance with State law but for only fiscal year 2022.
The Audit found a laundry list of actions by the District that violated State law. If that audit would have included 2018, 19, 20 & 21, the list would have quadrupled.
One of the findings is that the District failed to follow State law in AR Codes 19-11-801 and 19-11-805 in selecting Murdock as Construction Manager.
As State law requires, the Audit Report was referred to 1rst Judicial Prosecuting Attorney Todd Murray by then Legislative Auditor Roger Norman, who has since retired.
The problem for Murray wasn’t that there was no evidence the District violated 19-11-801 and 19-11-805…. I mean it’s cut and dried the laws were broken….The problem Murray had was that there is no criminal penalty for violating them.
I have been screaming about this for years….What most people do not know is that our Legislators create all kinds of State laws for Government to follow….They just conveniently forget to create penalties for those who violate them….Like having speed limits but no fines.
The only thing Murray could do at the time was to request the Arkansas State Police (ASP) to investigate Hardrick and Murdock for violating AR Code 5-52-101 Abuse of Public Trust which is a Felony.
No doubt Murray knew that was going to be hard to prove; however, he did his duty by asking for the investigation.
The ASP did just that but as you might guess could find no evidence to meet the high bar set in 5-52-101.
On July 10th 2023, Murray sent Hardrick as strong letter stating –
“It is also concerning that the District could not document that proper procedures were followed to select a construction manager for multiple projects around campus set forth in the rules and regulations promulgated by Ark. Code Ann. §§ 19-11-801 – 19-11-805 (contract manager paid approximately $726,426 for nine projects during fiscal year 2022); and, the District did not solicit bids for multiple construction projects as required by Ark. Code Ann. § 22-9-203 (five projects totaled approximately $12,019,254.) Alleged violations of fiscal management and responsibility laws must be addressed. You should also be aware that failure to make timely corrective action may create a presumption that a violation was committed knowingly.”
By all accounts Murray’s letter had the same value to Hardrick as toilet paper, as records show she continues to operate no differently than before the Audit.
Speed Limits with no Fines only serve to encourage people like Hardrick to speed.
Can’t blame Murray though….He was asked to turn Chicken Sh^t into Chicken Salad….He’s a Prosecutor, not a Magician.
This morning, I called Senator Murdock and interviewed him about the issue.
I have to say while most politicians involved in investigations I am conducting avoid me like an STD, Murdock had no problem talking to me.
The conversation was not adversarial or rushed at all. He was very professional while listening and responding to my questions.
In the matter concerning his business relationship with the District, he does not believe that any laws or policies have nor are being violating. He stated that the Audit and Prosecutor confirmed that, while also stating the Murray found no concerns with the District following laws pertaining to using him as the Construction Manager.
While he was professional and entitled to his opinion, the documented Facts prove his statements to be completely false.
I also called Hardrick who was not available. I left a message with her Administrative Assistant that I would like to interview her on the matter and to please call me….I have not gotten a return call yet.
I told Senator Murdock that I would send him the article when done writing it and that I would be glad to have him on a podcast to discuss it. I am offering the same to Hardrick.
So where are we at right now ?
Well as far as Murdock, I cannot find where He has broken any laws, criminal or not. I do know however that Murdock is no dummy….He’s a smart man.
He knows good and well what he is doing is wrong, just like Representative David Ray knows it’s wrong to be a highly paid campaign consultant to Attorney General Tim Griffin.
Both men know that while what they are doing may be legal, that is Sleazy and Slimy….Something all too common on both sides of the aisle in the Swamp that we call the State Capitol.
As for Hardrick ?….Well she continues to flip-off the Legislature, Prosecutor and most importantly the Taxpayers by violating State Law and Policies….And this is not the only issue she is committing violations on either.
Right now, Murray, Secretary of Education Jacob Olivia and the Arkansas Department of Education are powerless to stop this, what I call, theft of Taxpayer money….However the School Board can.
The Board is meeting on February 20th next week on Thursday evening at 5:30pm. I am going to send each of them this article for the reason that they can no longer say they don’t know or have the Facts.
They have the ultimate power to right this wrong and they can do it next Thursday night.
All they have to do is have a motion from a member to immediately terminate with cause Tiffany Hardrick….a second from another member….and then just four votes to approve the motion.
Then a motion from a member to instruct their attorney to advise them on how best to legally terminate the agreement with Murdock….a second from another member….and then just four votes to approve the motion.
Once they have that advice from their attorney then a motion from a member to terminate the agreement with Murdock….a second from another member….and then just four votes to approve the motion.
It really is that simple and it really is that easy.
Only question is are there four on the Board that possess the ethical morality to do what needs to be done ?
That question will be answered next Thursday night.
Oh and you can bet I will have a follow up.
#FactsNotFiction
moc.oohay@nivac.eimmij
Links to Documents in this case.
file:///C:/Users/linda/Downloads/DOC011625-01162025145653%20(2).pdf
file:///C:/Users/linda/Downloads/Forrest%20City%20School%20District_audit%20end%206-30-22.pdf
file:///C:/Users/linda/Downloads/Forrest%20City%20School%20District_Case%20file_ASP-2023-0080.pdf
Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
I would like to have a conversation with you about public school insurance.
FINALLY BRING THIS TOO LIGHT!! And apply the charges that need to occur!
Please look into reggie and willie public office
sounds like Arkansas needs Doge
sounds like Arkansas needs Doge
sounds like Arkansas needs Doge
Let’s go back and get clarity on the situation. Hardrick and the Wilson’s are closer than closer. They hug each other like a glove. Coby Wilson’s mother Sharon Wilson and Hardrick are thicker than thieves . Wilson works as federal program coordinator for the Forrest City School District for several years. Now the question is why is she not working from the district office as the other employees are. She’s never on site maybe one day out of a month. I mean how can you be in two places at one time . You are overseeing your co Amazon . They call that double dipping. Also, if you are being allowed to work from home how does the district access you days off , sick or personal. How is that being calculated. Who do you turn that in to . That’s called stealing time if it’s not documented, but how can it be. Who knows when you take a day off. The board and everyone in the district knows that she’s not at work and that she works from home. Now the same can be said for her son Coby, he is assigned to the school that her mother is principal yes her mother makes big bucks. It was said that he is listed as a teacher , and he is but he works as an ISS in school suspension teacher . In what district do ISS teachers make certified teachers pay. Check any school in the United States of America and you will not find that no ISS instructor makes those big bucks. There are other ISS teachers in the district now and some before him whose salary couldn’t even touch that. You are , there so much to uncover with this group of people. Start digging into her boyfriend and his consultant company , he’s probably made the money Murdock has made . How can he have consulted for all these years and we have been at a F school? He came into the district with her . They have traveled several states with this money scheme. Forrest City has been the only one that has allowed them to strike gold . This man is never at schools consulting with any teachers , why would you when you are sleeping with the enemy. Everyone knows this. This situation is awful , it’s a disservice to the kids and the community. The school board should be dismantled, they are scared to do anything. They don’t know that she works for them. Check into the above mentioned thus and see what you come up with