Former Jefferson County Purchasing Agent Hired at BISD

  KFDM News has learned the Beaumont school district has hired former Jefferson County Purchasing Agent Naomi Lawrence-Lee as the BISD Purchasing Agent.

   KFDM News spoke with Naomi Lawrence-Lee Tuesday morning, and she told us her first day on the job at BISD was Monday.

  "I am excited to be working and to be an asset to the Beaumont Independent School District," Lawrence-Lee told KFDM in a telephone conversation.

  "We'll try to save taxpayer dollars whenever possible and hopefully offer my expertise in spending tax dollars wisely for the students in BISD and the community."

  In January of 2007, Lee resigned from her job as Jefferson County Purchasing Agent, which she'd held for five years, after the District Attorney's Office began investigating allegations she had directed an employee in the Print Shop to print 5,000 copies of a flier for a home building business in which Lee and her husband had an interest.

 No charges were filed in the case and Lee reimbursed the county for the $311 cost of having the fliers printed.

 Lawrence-Lee played an important role in Jefferson County finances, often raising questions about what she called excessive spending of tax dollars on various purchases related to Ford Park, as well as other purchases that she believed weren't in the best interests of Jefferson County taxpayers.