DeSoto County School Board approves payment to vendor paid before purchase order issued
The board voted without discussion to approve a request to pay a vendor for work done before a purchase order was obtained.
At the DeSoto County School Board's regular meeting Oct. 2, 2026, in Southaven, a district official identified in meeting audio as Mr. Reeves told members a letter in their packet sought approval "to pay a vendor for services rendered prior to our purchase order being obtained." He said the "matter has been addressed with the employee and should not be an ongoing problem." The board approved the payment with no further discussion. The vendor's identity, the amount and the exact corrective action taken were not specified at the meeting.
Such after-the-fact purchasing approvals represent a departure from normal procurement controls meant to ensure spending is authorized before services are rendered. Mississippi oversight bodies track these lapses in public institutions regardless of the dollar amount involved.