By Jim Mimiaga

The Dolores school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to suspend Superintendent Greg Conway’s salary while it awaits the outcome of an investigation into allegations of financial improprieties that surfaced last summer.

Conway, who has also been a teacher and principal for the district, was suspended with pay on Oct. 19, and a comprehensive performance audit of financial records during his tenure was ordered. At the Dec. 15 regular board meeting in the Dolores High School library, the board opted to withhold Conway’s salary because they were unsure whether he was entitled to it, according to the board’s attorney.

Conway’s annual salary is $68,000.

"We’re nearing the end phase of the investigation," board president Graham Nielson said in a brief statement following an executive session to discuss the matter. "Our lawyer is speaking with Greg’s lawyer in order to resolve this issue as soon as possible."

The school district’s attorney, Reese Miller, would not comment on the progress of the investigation to this point, citing attorney-client privilege. According to Miller, the district has hired, through him, an independent researcher to analyze financial records for alleged wrongdoings by Conway during his employment as superintendent, a position he has held since 1993. Miller contracted with Sheri Betzer, a certified public account from Denver, to conduct the probe for the board, at taxpayer expense.

Nielson told the Cortez Journal Oct. 22 that the results of the audit would be public record, but refused to shed any light on the matter following the meeting, other than saying that a portion of the evaluation had been completed and was being reviewed by the board.

When the board unanimously voted to suspend Conway in October, Nielson said that it was without prejudice, and that it was done to protect the district and so that "no one could accuse (Conway) of interfering with the investigation."

No criminal charges have been filed relating to the case, Miller said, nor have any of the specifics regarding the alleged financial improprieties that prompted the suspension been revealed officially. He was unsure how much longer the audit would take to complete and could not say whether or not the results would be made public.

"It depends on how it turns out and what happens with the superintendent," Miller said. "It could be (made public), but it is premature to say yes or no on that, plus the report is not yet finalized."