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Sunday, May 19, 2013 | 6:54 a.m.

Posted: 9:57 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2012

$130K gift to boosters raises eyebrows

By Katie Wedell

Staff Writer

SPRINGBORO —

A large donation made Wednesday morning to the Springboro Athletic Boosters Association is under scrutiny.

Board of Education member Jim Rigano said one of the officers with the booster organization made the six-figure donation and may have been in contact with police Thursday.

Rigano said the board will be looking into the donation as part of an ongoing review of all third-party funds coming into the athletic program.

That review has been ongoing as the board budget and finance committee has sought to determine if the amount parents are asked to contribute through the district's "pay to play" program is appropriate.

"We've been asking for financial reports and trying to analyze all the funding for athletics," Rigano said. "Funds that the boosters were collecting are part of that model."

Board President Scott Anderson confirmed that the board is aware of the situation but is referring all questions to Springboro police.

"We're not sure of the scope of it," he said. "We've been asked to not comment and refer everyone to the police."

Springboro Police Chief Jeffrey Kruithoff said he could neither confirm nor deny that a criminal investigation is underway.

The donation was reportedly about $130,000.

Rigano said the budget and finance committee has been trying to make sure third-party fundraising for the schools is more transparent.

"Parents need to know where these funds are going," he said.

He said none of the money under investigation is taxpayer funds.

Newly confirmed Superintendent Todd Petrey also referred questions to police.

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