Connecticut lawmakers learned yesterday that an outside firm will be hired to review the state’s school construction program.  Acting Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Michelle Gilman says this is in response to the ongoing federal investigation of the program’s former director, Kosta Diamantis, who was fired last October.

New Fairfield State Representative Pat Callahan says it's critical that safeguards be implemented this legislative session to protect all future bidding processes.  He says yesterday's presentation glossed over any of the contracting guidelines that had previously been implemented by the department and stressed additional third-party audits going forward.

Gilman says the outside firm will provide an audit by the end of April.

Callahan says education spending comprises most of what's in local municipal budgets, so engaging in behavior that may cast doubt on a program that awards state funding based on district need is a severe misuse of the state's limited resources.  He says lawmakers should set these contracting standards in stone.

Callahan called for a follow-up hearing.

Gilman says there is an auditing team from the Office of School Construction Grants and Review that’s now a part of DAS’s business office. And DAS works with state auditors to review all departmental transactions.