Audit criticizes handling of school safety grant

CINCINNATI (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has criticized Cincinnati Public Schools on its handling of a $5 million school safety grant.

The department says in a recently released audit that mismanagement of the "Walking School Bus" program resulted in improper spending and put students at risk.

The department says a program manager raised her own pay, in one instance, and some people with criminal histories were hired to walk elementary school students to school.

The program was implemented at eight schools over 18 months between 2015 and 2016. It was suspended with about $3.6 million unused.

School district spokeswoman Lauren Worley says there's no evidence children were harmed during the program.

She says while the district disagrees with several of the findings, officials are working to improve financial management of grants.