Audit cites record-keeping errors
GREENSBURG — The St. Helena Parish School Board received its 2010-11 audit report Thursday, a document citing the board’s failure to adhere to policies within its “School Activity Fund Procedures Manual.”
The manual contains a policy designed to track on-campus expenses such as sporting events or field trips, according to the report.
Report findings show improper record keeping such as receipts lacking documentation and checks not being signed by the school principal, according to the audit.
“And that’s been over and over again, I bet you for 10 years now,” said board President Edward Galmon. “That’s on the campus level.”
The effect of the finding is an increased risk of potential fraudulent activity, the document states.
Larry Jones, of the Bruno and Tervalon LLP accounting firm, presented the audit report and recommended the board urge those responsible for the documents to follow the rules.
Superintendent Kelli Joseph responded that the board already had a plan to combat the problem.
“We have designated central office personnel to make sure the rules are being followed properly,” she said. “We’re also looking at an accounting program to use at school sites. There’s no accounting system at schools now. We want to put one in place that forces them to follow policies.“
Joseph said procedures have been ignored in the past, but new school administrators have been hired and new programs have been implemented, such as an electronic payroll, since the time of the audit.
She said with less paperwork, there should be fewer problems in the future.
No other findings were documented by the audit.
“Any situation where we don’t have findings is good news,” Galmon said. “Those who have experience on the board know we’ve had plenty of findings before.”
Other issues taken up by the board included:
CONSTRUCTION LOAN: The board discussed updates on its recent $3 million Qualified Student Construction Bond loan.
The board has until March 5 to partner with a bank to obtain the loan, Joseph said.
Although the board has received rejections from four banks, Joseph said she in the process of contacting more.
“We need this money to build a new building at the high school to replace the cafeteria and modular buildings that are there,” Joseph said. “That cafeteria should be torn down. It aggravates me to see (students) have to stand outside in line.
“And the upgrades that need to take place in the cafeteria — we might as well get a new building. Now, more than ever, it’s important that we get this money,” the superintendent said.
Galmon agreed, noting the project would place no additional cost on taxpayers.