News Release
Everett Public Schools
May 13, 2011
For more information:
Jeff Moore, 425-385-4150
Mary Waggoner, 425-385-4049
District earns clean audit report – for the eighth consecutive year
State auditor’s report says district’s internal controls protect public interests
Federal audit shows no findings
For the eighth year in a row, Everett Public Schools has received a clean state audit.
The four board members present at Thursday’s audit exit conference were pleased at this year’s audit
report and the evidence of accountability it represents. “We take our responsibilities seriously,”
School Board President Ed Petersen told the audit team. “It is comforting to know that you do such a
thorough audit examination and that you can document the compliance and efficient work being done
by district staff to manage and safeguard public resources. We appreciate being able to come meet
and hear from you that things are as we think. Now we
know
our thinking is correct, and we have
clear evidence of the checks and balances in place to continue the district’s history of public
stewardship.”
A state auditor team spends weeks each year determining if school district finances and legal
compliance issues are handled and managed in such a way that protects public interests. The team
reviews finances and district compliance with state and federal laws, regulations and its own district
policies. The results of the annual, systematic reviews of district records are then reported to district
officials and to the state and published on the
state auditor’s searchable website
. Those interested in
audit reports can also subscribe to them at
www.sao.wa.gov/EN/News/Subscriptions
.
Areas examined in this year’s audit of state compliance areas for Everett Public Schools included:
Open Public Meetings Act compliance
School district financial condition
Debts and covenants
Conflict of interest and ethics laws
Student store funds
Cash receipting
Alternative learning education
Associated Student Body funds
Associated Student Body fundraisers
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Everett Public Schools – eight years of clean audit reports
Page 2
Examination of the first five areas resulted in no recommendations or suggestions for even minor
changes. In particular, the board was pleased to learn the auditors found no violations of the Open
Public Meetings Act. The auditors made minor recommendations to clarify district policy about
operational procedures in the latter four. None of those suggestions rose to the level of either an
official “finding” – which would trigger a negative audit report – or a “management letter” that would
further detail the need for important changes.
Each year an audit team visits, they examine varying compliance areas and different records. This
was another reassurance for Petersen. “As your audit rotates through various areas, we get a good
look at the scope of all program management over time.”
During the exit conference, the board members present took advantage of the time set aside by the
audit team to ask questions and to become more deeply familiar with the accountability requirements.
When asked about the district’s eight years of clean audits, the audit team affirmed that such a record
was “really good” and merited “congratulations.”
Superintendent Gary Cohn and Finance and Operations Director Jeff Moore were complimentary of
the staff responsible for the work resulting in another clean audit report. “This is a very clear
affirmation of the care we take in the work we do,” said Moore.
Cohn added, “This is something every school district staff member can be proud of because we are
all
responsible in some way for finances and compliance.”
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