Among the report's findings, taken from the citizen's sumary:
-The district's general fund balance has declined from $29 million in July 2011 to $5 million in June 2015.
-The district "has not adequately segregated the duties of receiving, recording, and depositing or transmitting monies at any of the five schools auditors visited or perform documented reviews of accounting records.
-Collection procedures at the student run store need improvement. Neither the teacher nor students maintain proper inventory records.
-The district used the same provider to serve as financial advisor and bond underwriter for all bond and lease participation certificates, and "sold general obligation bonds using a negotiated sale rather than a competitive bid process.
-The district made payments "totaling approximately $4.3 million to the rebuild projects construction manager for general conditions fees and acceleration costs without obtaining adequate supporting documentation to ensure reasonableness and compliance with contract terms."
-The district overcharged on Sunshine Law requests.
-The Board of Education did not make public the results of some votes taken and the final disposition of matters discussed in closed meetings, when required.
-" District personnel do not reconcile the Bright Futures Joplin store inventory to purchase and sales and do not conduct periodic physical inventories."
-"The district did not require 11 at-risk fourth grade students who were reading below a third grade level at the end of the 2013-2014 school year to attend summer school prior to the district promoting them to fifth grade.
-The district has not bothered to perform an annual physical inventory of assets since 2010 and the asset listing does not include $11.7 million in capital assets purchased after the tornado.
-Mileage logs are not always complete.
-The district "hired some employees for positions in which they did not possess the minimum required qualifications and there was no documentation supporting the district's acceptance of other qualifications or experience in lieu of the stated qualifications.
-The district has "not documented the basis for administrative employee mileage stipends and does not have a policy to address meal allowances, mileage reimbursements, mileage stipends and the submission of related supporting documentation."
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22 comments:
I think it's a good idea for the world to notice all of the things that Randy suggested the audit would report that it did NOT report. All of the processes that were concerned in the audit make complete sense based on the circumstances of the last 3 years.
I'm sure the conspiracy theorists will start talking soon...this just isn't bad enough for them to be true.
And let me guess Huff will say it's what had to be done because of the tornado and is all not a big deal because it's all for the kids! Just sickening.
Let the backtracking, nail biting, he said she said, oh my the tornado made me do it. It was all for the kids speech.
Well.... I think those hoping for heads to roll will be disappointed. Sounds as if it will continue to be business as usual for R8. If elections don't go well, I don't see anything changing for years. Let's see what the turnover rate will be this year.
Very sad day for Joplin.
And this found exactly what was expected....nothing. Every institution needs to tighten its practices and internal control measures. This would be found in most any audit. Beavi....money well spent people.
@ 12:44 & 2:15,
I strongly disagree, if there was NOTHING found the audit should have been excellent or good. This was not the case. There needs to be intense improvement, what school district hires people that do not have the education for the position? The board not being transparent to the public, these are just two issues. Hopefully with a new board in April, things can improve and the tax payers can again be proud of this district.
This was a damning audit. The budgetary issues alone are concerning considering that voters put so much of their faith in the district in the 2012 levy vote. But worse are the hiring, contractual, and namby-pamby student promotions that have taken place. It's been all about Huff padding his results and building his machine.
You who are claiming nothing was found must be illiterate or Huff backers. All two of you. Blatant violations of the Sunshine Law, the bidding process, the hiring process, attendance, money management, and academic failure are huge issues. The district has 90 days to make noticeable improvements. What do they do? Take out another loan, just days after sending their rebuttal to the auditor, and they fail to get competitive bids.
It is exceedingly rare for districts to get a "poor" rating. To get the next level to that is not something to feel relief over. The Board is supposed to be the steward of the public trust. They have violated the trust in every way and will continue to do so until they are voted out or prosecuted. Either works for me.
Mission Accomplished!
@12:44
You aren't the brightest bulb in the box. Many of the issues raised in the Turner Report posts were addressed, and harshly assessed. Just because you want to believe something doesn't make it true, nor does it mean that anyone else will be dumb enough to believe you. The evidence is there for anyone who can read. Have someone explain it to you, if it's too difficult for you to grasp.
Some of the items brought forth on here are not necessarily things that would have been in the scope of the audit. It isn't to say they aren't valid points, just that they aren't something they look into by procedure.
I'm pretty sure this audit proves that Randy has wasted the last few years of his life. And yes, that is sad. I remember him as a good teacher and someone who thought outside the box. Now, all I see is a bitter old man and talent wasted.
7:24, you certainly called it right on that one. Since that bitter old man started writing about the school district, Jeff Flowers was defeated for re-election, Shawn McGrew was kept off the board and then kept from running again, Debbie Fort was elected and it appears almost a certainty that more people who are not automatic Huff supporters will be elected this time. Huff is widely considered to be a joke. I would say that bitter old man is having the time of his life.
Do you really think this was a glowing report? What a fool! Even Huff expected better. HA! Umm umm uhh umm
Excellent comment!
Are you a state auditor?
Those of you who think this audit was acceptable are the epitome of what is wrong in Joplin. The district essentially received a D. Thinking that not being a complete failure is acceptable goes right along with CJ's philosophy of "D is for Diploma." It isn't about excellence at all. When I was teaching, a D said "didn't do very well" and was unacceptable to most parents. This fair rating should not be acceptable to the patrons of the district. Why are you willing to settle for this? I'm guessing those who think this is acceptable don't mind paying the increase in taxes and don't have children being cheated every day. Shame on you! We all should demand better than "barely passing."
This audit was most excellent!
The auditors didn't arrest anyone. Yet.
Additional points of excellence: "tornado" mentioned repeatedly along with "Huff","buildings","sinkholes".
The auditors don't have arrest or prosecution powers. But we simply don't yet know if they forwarded information to the state or the Feds. Our first sign of that would likely be a seizure of documents by one or the other. Hmmm, I wonder how many will be lost in the move from the DoT building....
"Fair" equals a D.
The only worse grade is "Poor" or an F.
This is shameful.
F is where the auditors can't audit because the records have already been seized by law enforcement. The audit then can't happen b/c the records aren't there and employees are exercising fifth amendment prevention.
Thus D is purt near an F.
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