Something smells at the administrative offices of District 150. Again.
We have yet another scandal at the school district, possibly involving the firing of a principal who is a whistle blower on another school official. At the root of this is alleged misuse of school funds and missing financial records. 
District 150 has fallen back on its routine for scandal — say nothing, let the citizens, students and media speculate and hope it all goes away.
We have watched it happen so many times before.
This time the scandal involves Julie McArdle, principal of Lindbergh Middle School. Monday night the District 150 School Board, following a special session, fired her.
The police have confirmed District 150 superintendent Ken Hinton filed police reports on Friday alleging possible misuse of school funds and missing financial records from the 2007-08 school year. The investigation, it appears, revolves around former Lindbergh principal Mary Davis, now an official in Hinton’s administration.
Richard Steagall, McArdle’s attorney, says his client informed administration officials about credit card statements and calls from a credit card company asking for payment.
Steagall told the Journal Star the balance on the card at one point exceeded $9,000 — with charges to Peoria Toyota, FedEx/Kinko’s, Amazon.com, Best Buy, American Girls and cash advances. Steagall said, in addition, his client found documentation showing just over $4,000 was paid toward the balance of the credit card from student activities funds.
Steagall said it appears the school district is “shooting the messenger.” Given what the administration is releasing we have to say at first blush it appears Steagall is right.
Hinton went on camera stating, “It’s a personnel matter, and I really can’t say anything.”
Hinton is right. The law does not allow him to state on the record what is going on. So, once again we are left with one side of the story. Once again the citizenry of Peoria are left to stew.
When is an administrator or board member going to grow a backbone and leak to the media, under cover of anonymity, what is going on here? That is how the game is played in situations like this.
But, we are not going to hold our breath waiting for that to happen. It is beginning to look like the only loyalty those who work within the administration have is to each other.
An editorial of a very different kind about District 150 was planned for this space. Written on Friday — the same day Hinton filed the police reports — the editorial asked people to stop throwing darts at the administration and school board concerning the district’s financial situation and begin pitching ideas. 
Toss that idea, at least as far as this situation goes. And, we suggest abandoning darts. We suggest the administration and school board need to be hit with subpoena’s to compel some answers.
Then, we need to seek some fresh air and fresh faces at the administration building. It may be the only way to remove the almost perpetual stink there.