Burlington school official billed her district $1.8M via a shell company, FBI alleges
Federal investigators allege that Stephanie Phillips, a 28-year Burlington School District employee who served as interim superintendent in 2014 and later as executive director of teaching and learning, used a company she controlled, Leading and Learning Consultants of VT, to bill the district at least $1,769,200 from 2013 until her retirement in spring 2026. Search warrant applications unsealed in U.S. District Court say she invoiced for work that was part of her salaried job or never performed, and was the district's primary approval authority for curriculum payments. The district reported the transactions to police after she retired. The FBI searched her Colchester home; she has not been charged. Superintendent Tom Flanagan said the district has tightened procurement and invoicing and hired outside experts.
At the time of her retirement, Phillips was the “primary approval authority” at the district for payments related to curriculum development, investigators wrote.
Phillips, investigators allege, created a false company called Leading and Learning Consultants of VT to steal at least $1,769,200 from the district.
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Superintendent Flanagan said the district tightened procurement and invoicing and will seek to recover all funds.
No outcome recorded yet.