Records Show Conway School District Chief Legal Officer Shastady Wagner Lied To School Board About Corruption
Aug 23, 2025
On July 14th I announced I was beginning an investigation into the alleged misuse of Taxpayer money in the District’s maintenance department.
That led to me issuing an investigation report in an article on August 6th.
In the report I detailed the corruption in the maintenance department along with the coverup by the administration.
I announced that I would be speaking at the August 12th Board meeting, asking them to request a Legislative Audit into the matter….Which I did.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eq9Ux6raS/
At the meeting, the Board seemed poised to make and pass a motion to make the request….However, member Trip Leach wanted to discuss it in executive session outside the public’s eye which is illegal….That’s where things went south.
When the Board came out and the meeting was called back in session, Board President Sheila Franklin, with Interim Superintendent Jason Black by her side, asked the District’s Chief Legal Officer, Shasta Wagner, to speak on the matter. As soon as Wagner got to the podium and adjusted the mic….the lie was on.
Wagner stated – “I have notified Legislative Audit as we are required to do if there is any allegations of misappropriation of funds. Legislative Audit has responded saying if there is anything they need from us they will let us know but at this time we have done what we are supposed to do as a District in that regard.”
She went on to say – “If Legislative Audit decides to take that forward they will let us know what they want from us. They may very well open it up themselves.”
Go to the 4:03:37 mark to hear Wagner’s full 1:15 sec statement.
https://www.youtube.com/live/eaYrxwOIL2g?si=MUV-ss5TGiUSwwnj
With her statement, Wagner convinced the Board that Legislative Audit was on it and there was no need to take a vote to make the request.
Now was her statement to the Board the truth ?
No….It was not….It was a lie….And records from Legislative Audit prove it.
Let’s back up just a minute.
When Wagner told the Board that the District was required to report the corruption, that part was true.
AR Code 25-1-124 (b) states – (1) A public employee with supervisory fiduciary responsibility over all fiscal matters of a public employer shall report to Arkansas Legislative Audit a loss of public funds that amounts to one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more in one (1) calendar year, including without limitation:
(A) Apparent unauthorized disbursements of public funds; or
(B) The apparent theft or misappropriation of public funds or property.
(2) A report under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be made within five (5) business days of the date the public employee learns of the loss of public funds.
Records show the District was made aware of the loss on Thursday April 17th of this year so by State law, the District was to notify Legislative Audit no later than Thursday April 24th….Right ?
Wanna take a guess when Wagner actually notified Legislative Audit ?
Try 3 hours and 45 minutes before the August 12th Board meeting started….I kid you not.
Wagner sent the notification to the head of Legislative Audit, Kevin White, the day of the meeting at 2:16pm. Black and Assistant Superintendent Andrew Ashley were both copied on that email.
The District Administration never took steps to follow the law and report the matter until 3 ½ months later….and the reality is they never intended to report it.
It wasn’t until they found out I was coming to the Board meeting to speak on it that they knew they were out of road and scrambled to cover their asses….Well sorry guys….It didn’t work.
White responded to Wagner, Black and Ashley at 4:07pm that same day with – “Thank you Ms. Wagner, for the report. I’ve forwarded the information to the applicable staff. Those individuals will follow up if additional information is needed.”
That’s it….Nothing like Wagner stated or described to the Board….Not even close.
Black sat next to Board President Shelia Franklin and quietly listened to every word Wagner said full well knowing it was a lie.
And the man who oversees Maintenance where the corruption took place….Andrew Ashley….sat there quietly as well.
The Board bought the con-job and moved on without taking any action….It gets worse though.
On August 14th, White sent Wagner, Black and Ashley an email saying that since the District uses a private auditor for annual audits, HCJ CPAs & Advisors instead of using Legislative Audit, it is HCJ’s responsibility to follow up and issue a report as required by law….Not Legislative Audit’s responsibility.
In other words…. Legislative Audit is not going to dig into this. They can only take action if….IF….HCJ makes the report which would then be presented to the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee….They do not control what HCJ does.
So where does this leave us now ?
Well, we need a request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and approval for a Legislative Audit and Investigation into the matter.
That can only happen if a State Representative or State Senator makes that request.
That is why I asked the Board to request Representative Mary Bentley or Senator Mark Johnson to make the request to the committee.
What we also need is for the Board to take action against this stunning display of deceit to the Board and Public by Black and Wagner….If this isn’t cause for termination, I don’t know what is.
They need to start at Tuesday night’s Special Meeting by demanding answers on why Black and Wagner were dishonest.
Will they do that ?….Or will they cover for Black and Wagner ?
I can tell you there is one Board member that has had enough of the dishonesty and corruption and will be demanding action and answers this Tuesday night….But will Franklin try to shut that member down ???
I myself will be attending and addressing the Board during the Public Comment period making that same demand.
I reached out to Black on Friday morning asking for an interview…. You know….The guy who constantly talks about Trust and Transparency at Board meetings?
What I got is what I always get from Black….Crickets.
Enough is Enough….The Board needs to clean house in the District Administration and start fresh….If they don’t, then they themselves are part of the Corruption.
#FactsNotFiction
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
Wow!