Trial Begins For Former Alabama Education Official

The trial of a former state Department of Education official and her husband has started in Montgomery.

Prosecutor Bill Lisenby told jurors Tuesday that Deann Stone used her position as the department’s director of federal programs to manipulate the awarding of federal stimulus funds. He said $24 million in stimulus grants went to three school systems using her husband’s employer, Information Transport Solutions, to help with grants. Lisenby said the company got $10 million from those grants.

Defense attorneys said an internal investigation by the state Department of Education found no conflict involving Deann and Dave Stone. They also said the same three school systems would have won the grants with or without Deann Stone’s involvement.

The couple is charged with violating the state ethics law.

 

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