COLUMBUS, Ohio -- State Auditor Mary Taylor Tuesday ordered a Cincinnati charter school to repay the state $2.6 million.

The order came after release of a string of financial audits of Harmony Community School from 2005, 2006 and 2007.

In a written statement, Taylor said the school had failed to provide necessary documentation.

“Good recording keeping is vital to ensuring that public funds are spent legally and appropriately,” Taylor said.

The school must reimburse the state for funding it received because the school did not prove it met state curriculum requirements.

The school must also pay back $293,517 for students who the school received state funding, but in reality were no longer attending the school.

Another $180,962 must be repaid to the state for students who failed state mandated residency requirements.

The audits also found $158,450 in federal grant money was spent improperly.

And then there is the matter of public money spent to renovate the school director’s home.

Taylor said Director Deland McCullough used $6,551 of school money to renovate the deck at his home.

After the expenditure became an issue in the audit, the money was repaid to the school.

The Ohio Attorney General and Hamilton County Prosecutor were both notified of the finding.

Taylor said the school still lacks additional records required by the state, including proof that all teachers and aides were properly licensed by the state.

School administrators could not be reached for comment.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com