Board’s audit costs swell
Baker schools to pay $43,500
BAKER — The Baker School Board’s 2011-12 financial audit will cost $22,000 more than the previous year’s.
The board voted 3-2 to hire the Baton Rouge accounting firm of Postlethwaite & Netterville to perform the upcoming audit. According to the firm’s proposal, the audit will cost $43,500.
Board President Elaine Davis and members Dana Carpenter and Shona Boxie voted for the hire. Troy Watson and Doris Alexander cast dissenting votes.
“I want to see all the proposals. How many were there? How was P&N chosen?” Alexander asked.
Secretary Debbie Davis left the meeting and returned with copies of the three proposals. In addition to Postlethwaite & Netterville, Mary Sue Staples and Roslyn J. Allen submitted proposals. Both are certified public accountants.
Staples, who performed the 2010-11 audit for $21,000, offered to carry out the 2011-12 audit for the same fee.
Allen’s proposal was for $20,000-25,000, plus up to $500 in additional expenses such as travel.
Other items before the board included:
HVAC CONTRACT: The board voted 3-1 to hire Star Service Inc. to service the school system’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Davis, Boxie and Carpenter voted to approve the contract. Alexander opposed the measure. Watson abstained.
Superintendent Ulysses Joseph told the board that the previous contractor, Johnson Controls Inc., asked to be allowed out of its contract.
“We were having to call them on almost a daily basis, and they were spending more than their $112,000 contract,” he said.
He explained that the $54,900 agreement with Star would cover only maintenance, not repairs. Any parts and labor associated with fixing the systems would be billed separately.
The contract with Johnson Controls was supposed to include some repairs, but the company asserted that some of the school district’s equipment is obsolete and those repairs were not covered under the contract, Joseph said.
Watson expressed concern that not enough companies were considered.
“We checked with our attorney and this is not a bidding process,” Davis said.
REDUCTION IN FORCE: In a work session, the board discussed new procedures for laying off staff due to budgetary problems as required by Act 1 of the 2012 state Legislature. The new policy is supposed to be in place by Sept. 1, attorney Winston DeCuir said.