Dougherty County School Board member David Maschke has given Darrell Sabbs and Associates a deadline to repay money that Maschke claims was improperly awarded to Sabbs' company.
"In my letter I'm calling for Mr. Saabs to return the money," said Maschke.
Maschke says the money was supposed to pay for 14 Saturday instructional days for students.
He says that obligation was never met.
"Only 12 instructional sessions were ever held and then there was a 13th shorter session, which was just a field day session," said Maschke.
Now he wants Sabbs to refund more than $11,000 by Friday at 3 p.m.
We caught up with Sabbs' lawyer, Maurice King, Jr., Thursday evening by phone and he says the contract wasn't improperly awarded.
"There are two things I can establish as a matter of law. I can establish that the board approved the contract and I can establish the Georgia Department of education approved it," said King, Jr.
King went on to say his client won't meet any deadline set by Maschke because he doesn't have any power to set one.
"First of all, as an individual board member, he doesn't have the legal authority to set a deadline," said King, Jr.
Maschke says if the money isn't paid by Friday's deadline he will talk to former board members in hopes they can persuade Sabbs to pay up.
"It's clear that the school system administration has been improperly handling funds, improperly awarding contracts and the board has a responsibility, in my opinion, to get after this," said Maschke.
King says bring it on.
"If Maschke thinks he can prove what he says, then let him sue and we'll counterclaim," said King, Jr.
Maschke says if former school board members and the current superintendent can't make Sabbs pay up, then he'll ask the board to take legal action.
Copyright 2012 WALB. All rights reserved.
David Maschke
Maurice King, Jr.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
