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Mexico Public School District No. 59 will undergo a performance audit by the Missouri State Auditor's Office, beginning Thursday. The audit is expected to take five to six months to complete, and will focus on financial related controls and procedures. A final report will be issued by the State Auditor's Office at the conclusion of the audit.
State Audit Manager Mark Ruether made the announcement Tuesday night at the Mexico School Board meeting. The purpose of his appearance was to officially notify the board about the audit and to explain the audit process.
According to Ruether, the Missouri State Auditor's Office can, by law, at any time, audit all public schools in the state. The audit is funded by the state, at no cost to the school district. Ruether said State Auditor Thomas A. Schweich is interested in using the statute more frequently, and is planning to audit a handful of school districts during 2012. The most recent audits were conducted in the Kansas City and Springfield school districts.
Ruether told the board the district was selected for two reasons. Referring to them as "the lucky one," he said the first reason is that Mexico School District meets the criteria for the state's desire to audit at least one smaller to medium sized district in a rural area. The other reason, he said, was based on concerns expressed by the general public.
According to Ruether, the State Auditor's Office has received "phone calls and correspondence from members of the public and people in the area who have expressed concerns about some issues within the district."
Ruether stated he is not at liberty to divulge anything specific about the concerns, which are considered confidential information. However, he said the concerns were a "factor" in the state auditor’s decision to audit the district.
He noted the audit will not be a substitute for the district's annual audit that is conducted by a private CPA firm, and in compliance with DESE requirements. The state's audit, he said, "will look more in-depth."
The state's audit, Ruether said, will focus more specifically on financial-related controls and procedures that may not have been material in the overall financial statements – such as other compliance issues the CPA generally does not look into, such as management practices over bidding, contract monitoring, transportation and food service costs and things on the personnel side, such as over-time cost. He said the state will also look at areas that will show them if things can be done "more efficiently and effectively," regarding the district's assets.
The auditors plan to schedule an appointment with the CPA firm to access the financial statement audits for the most recent fiscal year, ending June 30, 2011 and 2010, as well as what is currently in place. Ruether said the State Auditor's Office also requested from DESE 3-4 years of audit reports for the Mexico School District. Field workers from the state auditor's office will begin looking into the district's records Thursday and interviewing personnel to get information to support the audit report.
During the question and answer session, board member Elwood Rice asked if any repercussions would occur due to any findings. Ruether explained that the auditor's office has no enforcement power behind the recommendations made, but noted his office "hopes the district takes the findings and recommendations seriously, and attempts to implement them."
If there are a significant number of findings that warrant a follow-up process, Ruether said the State Auditor's Office will do a 90-day follow-up visit to the district to ensure the findings were addressed and then note that information in their final report. The follow-up, "gives us another vehicle to see if the findings are being taken seriously," he said.
Ruether said the State Auditor's Office is open to more concerns and will send out news releases this week that will list a telephone number and website for those interested in contacting the office to provide useful information to help set the scope of the audit.
"This is not always a pleasant thing, but we look forward to working with you," Ruether told the board. Board President Peter Perll responded saying "this is a good district, and we are happy to help with the audit."
A draft of the general findings of things to improve on will be presented to the board in closed session to ensure the report is accurate. At that time, the board will have the opportunity to respond to all the findings and recommendations and their responses will become a part of the final report. After that, the report will be signed by State Auditor Schweich and become public record and announced in a public forum.
In other news, board members congratulated the MHS wrestling team, the Future Business Leaders of America, Skills USA participants and the Academic Club on their most recent wins and accomplishments. State Rep. John Cauthorn also presented resolutions to the board members for their service to the community.
The board also discussed the district's summer maintenance and construction project list (including the installation of the Hawthorne intercom system) and announced that the Montgomery County R-2 Board of Education voted to allow students from Montgomery County High School to attend the Hart Career Center Vocational School for the 2012-2013 school year. They will begin enrolling students in the next few weeks.
An addendum was also submitted for Board of Education approval for the resignations of Mexico Middle School Principal Mark Buffington, McMillan Principal Sharon Palmer, Middle School Special Education teacher Rebecca Chase, MHS social studies teacher Jan Hoth, MHS physical education teacher Nick Hoth, and MHS social studies teacher Mary Heathman. With the exception of Chase, all of the resignations are effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Following regular session, the board adjourned into executive session to discuss student discipline, real estate and personnel.
Mexico Public School District No. 59 will undergo a performance audit by the Missouri State Auditor's Office, beginning Thursday. The audit is expected to take five to six months to complete, and will focus on financial related controls and procedures. A final report will be issued by the State Auditor's Office at the conclusion of the audit.
State Audit Manager Mark Ruether made the announcement Tuesday night at the Mexico School Board meeting. The purpose of his appearance was to officially notify the board about the audit and to explain the audit process.
According to Ruether, the Missouri State Auditor's Office can, by law, at any time, audit all public schools in the state. The audit is funded by the state, at no cost to the school district. Ruether said State Auditor Thomas A. Schweich is interested in using the statute more frequently, and is planning to audit a handful of school districts during 2012. The most recent audits were conducted in the Kansas City and Springfield school districts.
Ruether told the board the district was selected for two reasons. Referring to them as "the lucky one," he said the first reason is that Mexico School District meets the criteria for the state's desire to audit at least one smaller to medium sized district in a rural area. The other reason, he said, was based on concerns expressed by the general public.
According to Ruether, the State Auditor's Office has received "phone calls and correspondence from members of the public and people in the area who have expressed concerns about some issues within the district."
Ruether stated he is not at liberty to divulge anything specific about the concerns, which are considered confidential information. However, he said the concerns were a "factor" in the state auditor’s decision to audit the district.
He noted the audit will not be a substitute for the district's annual audit that is conducted by a private CPA firm, and in compliance with DESE requirements. The state's audit, he said, "will look more in-depth."
The state's audit, Ruether said, will focus more specifically on financial-related controls and procedures that may not have been material in the overall financial statements – such as other compliance issues the CPA generally does not look into, such as management practices over bidding, contract monitoring, transportation and food service costs and things on the personnel side, such as over-time cost. He said the state will also look at areas that will show them if things can be done "more efficiently and effectively," regarding the district's assets.
The auditors plan to schedule an appointment with the CPA firm to access the financial statement audits for the most recent fiscal year, ending June 30, 2011 and 2010, as well as what is currently in place. Ruether said the State Auditor's Office also requested from DESE 3-4 years of audit reports for the Mexico School District. Field workers from the state auditor's office will begin looking into the district's records Thursday and interviewing personnel to get information to support the audit report.
During the question and answer session, board member Elwood Rice asked if any repercussions would occur due to any findings. Ruether explained that the auditor's office has no enforcement power behind the recommendations made, but noted his office "hopes the district takes the findings and recommendations seriously, and attempts to implement them."
If there are a significant number of findings that warrant a follow-up process, Ruether said the State Auditor's Office will do a 90-day follow-up visit to the district to ensure the findings were addressed and then note that information in their final report. The follow-up, "gives us another vehicle to see if the findings are being taken seriously," he said.
Ruether said the State Auditor's Office is open to more concerns and will send out news releases this week that will list a telephone number and website for those interested in contacting the office to provide useful information to help set the scope of the audit.
"This is not always a pleasant thing, but we look forward to working with you," Ruether told the board. Board President Peter Perll responded saying "this is a good district, and we are happy to help with the audit."
A draft of the general findings of things to improve on will be presented to the board in closed session to ensure the report is accurate. At that time, the board will have the opportunity to respond to all the findings and recommendations and their responses will become a part of the final report. After that, the report will be signed by State Auditor Schweich and become public record and announced in a public forum.
In other news, board members congratulated the MHS wrestling team, the Future Business Leaders of America, Skills USA participants and the Academic Club on their most recent wins and accomplishments. State Rep. John Cauthorn also presented resolutions to the board members for their service to the community.
The board also discussed the district's summer maintenance and construction project list (including the installation of the Hawthorne intercom system) and announced that the Montgomery County R-2 Board of Education voted to allow students from Montgomery County High School to attend the Hart Career Center Vocational School for the 2012-2013 school year. They will begin enrolling students in the next few weeks.
An addendum was also submitted for Board of Education approval for the resignations of Mexico Middle School Principal Mark Buffington, McMillan Principal Sharon Palmer, Middle School Special Education teacher Rebecca Chase, MHS social studies teacher Jan Hoth, MHS physical education teacher Nick Hoth, and MHS social studies teacher Mary Heathman. With the exception of Chase, all of the resignations are effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Following regular session, the board adjourned into executive session to discuss student discipline, real estate and personnel.
