Dist. 128 may draft rules for credit cards

Three years after Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 administrators began issuing special credit cards to some employees, officials are considering adopting formal rules governing their use.

The cards, known as procurement cards or p-cards, allow teachers, administrators or other staffers to make school-related purchases. Before the cards were introduced in 2005, employees had to use their own money or credit cards and seek reimbursement.

Employees using the cards have had to follow administrative procedures thus far, but a stricter board policy hasn't been considered until now, said Yasmine Dada, the district's assistant superintendent for business.

The newly proposed policy, which was developed by the Illinois Association of School Administrators, spells out nine rules. In part, it says:

• Official credit and procurement cards cannot be used for personal purchases and must be limited to job-related expenses.

•The superintendent shall limit the amount each cardholder may charge in a single purchase or within a given month.

•Cardholders must submit original, itemized receipts for all purchases.

•The cards can be used to make purchases by phone or on the Internet, but only after the exchange is approved by the superintendent or Dada, who has overseen the program.

Consequences for unauthorized transactions could include reimbursing the district for the purchase amount, loss of card privileges and dismissal.

The school board's program and personnel committee reviewed the rules Monday night. The full board could discuss the matter at its Aug. 25 meeting.

For more information, read Wednesday's Daily Herald or revisit www.dailyherald.com.