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Change urged for handling of school audits
By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- Internal audits should go straight to the School Board and bypass the district's administration, giving auditors more freedom to investigate impropriety, according to an outside review. The recommendation, one of dozens in a 640-page draft report by the Gibson Consulting Group of Austin, Texas, comes after an internal audit in November revealed $560,000 was possibly misused in the district's grounds department. Currently, district auditors report to administrators. But the reviewers said the auditors could be called upon to review the people they report to, creating a conflict. "Although there have never been any problems with independence, this reporting hierarchy exposes the district to the potential for a lack of objectivity," according to the preliminary report. Overseen by the state's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, the study examined 14 areas to determine if the district is using state and federal funds efficiently and effectively. Once the final report is completed in April, the state will determine if Hillsborough should receive a state Seal of Best Financial Management Practices. Though the district is not obligated to follow the dozens of auditor recommendations, Superintendent Earl Lennard said each will be evaluated. A team of about 20 auditors began reviewing the district in September. They interviewed school employees and visited schools. They also held a public forum in October in which about 30 people attended. Under legislation passed last year, school districts are required to undergo a review every five years. Greg Gibson, president of Gibson Consulting, said that while some of the findings could change in the final report, nothing was surprising. "I don't think anything in there was shocking to us or shocking to the district from a negative standpoint," he said. The study also recommended the district perform detailed annual inventories and improve its purchasing procedures, which were partly to blame for some of the questionable spending noted in the grounds department internal audit. The report recommended the district build smaller schools and give more information about performance and cost savings to parents. The study commended the district for its instructional program, budget-cutting measures and efforts to ease overcrowding by building new schools. "Frankly, I'm very gratified by some of the statements in the report," said Deputy Superintendent Beth Shields. "There are so many good things in there." - Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com.
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From the Times Ernest Hooper |
