Some parents of Bartow High School cheerleaders are speaking out after a recent internal audit highlighted financial mismanagement within the schools celebrated cheer program.

They spoke to Tampa Bay 28 anonymously, citing fear of retaliation, but they wanted their voices heard for the sake of current and future students.

The audit, conducted by Polk County Public Schools for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, was requested after complaints from parents about undelivered items, canceled camps, and unclear use of funds.

The final report, dated Aug. 14, found incomplete fundraising forms, missing documentation on how money was spent, and items paid for by parents that were never delivered to Bartow Coed Cheer students.

We paid for basically just poms and socks, one parent said. Those were things

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