Fraud Hotline

The Board of Education encourages all stakeholders to report suspected financial irregularities and improper governmental activities of which they become aware.  If you are an employee, you are expected to report any known or suspected irregularities or improper activities. 

Financial irregularities include, but are not limited to: fraud, false claims, false statements, conflict of interest situations, bribery, theft or embezzlement by Board of Education employees, agents, contractors or volunteers. Improper governmental activities include, but are not limited to: violations of any state or federal law or regulation; Board policy, procedure or regulation; economically wasteful activities or activities that are a danger to public health or safety. This reporting procedure does not cover improprieties involving students. The information reported will be considered confidential, and you may report suspected financial irregularities and improper governmental activities anonymously. However, the Board encourages you to provide information that would allow us to contact you for further information or clarification. Additionally, employees may rest assured that there will be no reprisals for reporting a suspected irregularity or improper activity in good faith. 

However, intentionally making false accusations could lead to disciplinary action. Additionally, a party who is intentionally falsely accused may have certain legal remedies that could be exercised against his or her accuser.

Reporting Procedures

U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (OIG) Fraud Reporting Hotline

The OIG Hotline is available for anyone who knows of or suspects fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or violations of laws and regulations involving U.S. Department of Education (USED) funds or programs. This includes allegations of suspected wrongdoing by USED employees, contractors, grantees, schools and school officials, persons in positions of trust involving USED funds or programs, collection agencies, recipients of student financial assistance, or lending institutions. 

OIG Hotline: https://oig.ed.gov/oig-hotline

WCPS Fraud Reporting Hotline

The WCPS Communications Officer, is designated as the recipient of reports of financial irregularity and improper governmental activity. A hotline has been established so that you may report financial irregularities and improper governmental activities to her.

To submit a report, use one of the following::

• Call the dedicated hotline at 301-766-8700
• Call the Public Information Office at 301-766-2996
• Send an email
• Send written correspondence to:
  Washington County Public Schools
  ATTN: Communications Officer
  10435 Downsville Pike
  Hagerstown, Maryland 21740

You are encouraged to provide the following information in your report:

• The name, position and work location of the alleged perpetrator
• A complete description of the alleged act
• A description of how you discovered the alleged act
• As closely as you can determine, the date and time that the alleged act occurred
• As closely as you can determine, the value of the school system assets that have been compromised
• The names of any supervisory personnel to whom you have previously reported the alleged act (if none, so state)
• Your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address (optional)

Incomplete information may make it difficult or impossible to investigate your allegation(s). Therefore, we ask that the information you provide be as complete as possible.

Within one workday of receiving your report, the Public Information Office will contact the appropriate person(s) to begin an investigation into the allegations that you have made. The complete protocol for the investigation and reporting of the findings may be found in administrative regulation DIFA-R in BoardDocs.