State officials seize control of Colorado City schools
 
By Javier Soto / 3TV reporter
KTVK NewsChannel 3 - Phoenix
 
For years the Colorado City Unified School District has been plagued by financial problems until recently when state officials seized control.

According to an investigation by the Attorney General's Office, the Colorado City School district mismanaged hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The state seized control of the district. The call out for help to get rid of the school items came from an unlikely place.

"At first it was like walking into The Twilight Zone," said Clint Bleeker describing Colorado City.

"It was a beautiful school district. They had the best of everything. The furniture was immaculate," he said.

So with the help of dozens of fellow Lion's Club members, they took a trip to the polygamous sect not known for welcoming outsiders.

"I had to wonder where are all the people," he said. "Are they watching you from the windows? Where are the people?"

So desks, chairs and even school buses were brought back.

"We left a large portion of duplicate items behind. Chairs and desks behind," he said.

It was an undertaking that could have been costly.

"If we would have hired a moving company it would have been $15,000," Bleeker said.

But one that was requested by the state.

"I don't know if we did the state a favor but no one would touch it," he said.

The merchandise will now be auctioned off to benefit those in need.

The items will be auctioned May 20 in Flagstaff.

Fifty percent of the proceeds go to the Lions Club with the rest going to the state.

Apparently, many schools districts throughout the state were approached about going to pick up items from Colorado City, but nobody had the means.
 
azfamily.com
Originally broadcast Tuesday, May 9, 2006
 
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