Internal Auditor Resigns
Here's the Seattle Times story.
We have no way of knowing whether Mr. Nderu worked his tail off and issued all kinds of warnings, rang all kinds of alarms, and provided all kinds of constructive advice only to have his work balled up and thrown out - or - he bobbed along in the current doing little if anything.
A question like that could be fascinating, but, on the other hand, what difference does it make to anyone but him?
We have no way of knowing whether Mr. Nderu worked his tail off and issued all kinds of warnings, rang all kinds of alarms, and provided all kinds of constructive advice only to have his work balled up and thrown out - or - he bobbed along in the current doing little if anything.
A question like that could be fascinating, but, on the other hand, what difference does it make to anyone but him?
Comments
-parent of a first grader
I'm much more interested in what he did every other day of the three years he worked for the District.
That applies to each and every department down there.
The pecking order dictates that MGJ has Kennedy on that leash, he had the auditor on that leash and every single staff member who would not "take the bit" like a "broken" horse got out years ago.
Think back on the good people who have jumped ship in the last few years starting with the guy who was budget director before Duggan Harman.
Its sick but it all makes sense.
Oh, yes we do.
Anything that Mr. Nderu would have warned MGJ, staff or the board about, rang alarms about, given advice about, would have been done in writing, and he should be able to produce those documents.
From the comment sections in the Seattle Times article [and I agree]:
"If he informed the Board of the issues, it should be in writing and should be able to immediately produce reports. An internal auditor does not rely upon verbal notification. EVERYTHING is always backed up in writing, reports of findings, examination. If it is not in writing, it never happened. If the Auditor didn't realize this, then I question his credentials. "
Yes, the reports would be in writing and the public would have access to them through the Public Disclosure Act. Oh wait, I forgot that SPS doesn't feel obligated to provide these documents and run in an open transparent manner.
Writing to legal affairs officer Ms. Joy Stevens for Nderu's emails to the Board should bring some type of response.
Does it matter if Don Kennedy suppressed his reports or if Dr. Goodloe-Johnson blocked his access to the Board or if the Board got the reports and totally ignored them?
If we learned that it happened one way or the other, what difference would it make? Would our view of any of those people change?
SPS has released many many documents to the public in compliance with the public disclosure act (just ask Charlie, Melissa or Dan if you don't believe me). Mirimac you should try acknowledging when SPS does something right occasionally. It would make your posts much more credible and worthy of taking the time to read.
But lets just say, hypothetically, that mirimac is right and SPS won't produce the documents upon public request. And let's assume that Mr. Ndero actually did do his job, documented his findings, and corresponded with MGJ, staff and the board appropriately, and in writing. Don't you think Mr. Ndero has copies or access to copies of his correspondence, reports, and findings? don't you think he documented them? Don't you think he would produce those documents in his own defence?
If Mr. Ndero does not produce any documents, and nothing is produced as a result of a public disclosure request or another route, then I will have to concur with SPS that Mr. Ndero was not doing his job, and that MGJ is holding him accountable.
Which is a good thing.
But who knows. We'll have to wait and see what comes to light.
We should be blaming the right party. We have enough to blame on all those people without attributing misdeeds to them that they didn't actually commit. And if it was the auditor not doing his job or reporting only verbally, it's primarily his fault.
There is more here than meets the eye. I'm not sure about the messenger but I think I can read the message.
Between November 2009 and May 2010, at least 24 different district staff, including the internal auditor, were notified of issues.
The accounting manager was notified of 8 separate issues. The executive director of finance was notified of at least 3. The SpEd director of at least 4. The director of facilities was notified of one. And on and on and on.
Any member of SPS management who was notified of an issue by the auditor's office could - and should - have notified their own manager, the internal auditor, and possibly the board as well.
It is still entirely possible that the internal auditor was not doing a good job. But given the numerous members of district management who were notified of issues, it would be really, really hard for district management to play the "we had no idea because our internal auditor didn't tell us" card. There is ample evidence, just in the report, that district management should have had an idea of how bad the audit was going to be.
The board might be able to play that card - apparently they didn't learn of the many, many issues until the exit interview with the auditor's office this summer.
MEEOOOWW!
Actually I've been waiting months to get documents and have been getting the runaround. So have other parents I know.
"If Mr. Ndero does not produce any documents, and nothing is produced as a result of a public disclosure request or another route, then I will have to concur with SPS that Mr. Ndero was not doing his job, and that MGJ is holding him accountable."
Frankly, I won't lose any sleep if you don't find me credible and skip over my posts (I'm crying inside, sob). If you accept SPS press releases and MGJ's coffee chats as gospel, goodie for you.
neither do they release documents and evidence required for legal action voluntarily ...
and they NEVER produce a record they can certify to be complete and correct for legal purposes...
Two words: Plausible Deniability. If Mr. Nderu was not doing his job, then all kinds of people can say, "We didn't have ANY IDEA this was wrong? Our Ethics Officer never told us, so you can't blame us!" If he was doing his job, then they have no such excuse.
Of course, if he did do his job and write things down, then it is in management's interest to quash any release of documents. Without documents, it would be difficult to prove whether he wasn't doing the job, or was and not writing things down per counsel's recommendation, or was and documents are hidden in a man-sized safe.
For the record, I don't know that I've ever had contact with Mr. Nderu, and I don't know at all whether he was doing what he should or not. I was just trying to answer the "does it matter" question.
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 12:04 PM
Subject: FY 2011/2012 Budget Update #2 - Hiring & Spending Freeze Details
Dear Seattle Schools Staff Members,
The attached Superintendent’s Administrative Bulletin gives details regarding the freeze we have placed on hiring and spending for the remainder of this fiscal year. It is similar to the action we took last year as the first of a number of strategies we will use to effectively handle the budget problems that we face. As we get more information on how the state’s budget and the economy will impact Seattle Schools next year we will respond with additional strategies.
As you read the bulletin I ask that you pay particular attention to the statements concerning non-compliance and accountability in the second paragraph. As stated in the bulletin, compliance with the requirements of the bulletin is critical to help ensure we address the district’s budget difficulties and that we adhere to the State Audit recommendations requiring employees to comply with district policies and procedures.
I realize that freezing hiring and spending can place a burden on our efforts to accomplish the work we have been tasked to perform. However, the dollars that we save this year will go towards protecting jobs for next year. For instance, the similar measure we undertook last year resulted in
$5 million in savings, which were used to offset the budget gap. Had we not realized this $5 million of savings, we would have had to lay off approximately 65 more people in order to balance the budget. I ask for your support in implementing these measures as we work towards finding solutions to our budget problems.
Sincerely, Don Kennedy
Chief Financial and Operations Officer
Seattle Education 2010
Anyone want a copy, please send me an email and I will be happy to oblige.
Short answer: there was a lot of travel. Some school based and justifiable, but by no means all.
Superintendent’s Administrative Bulletin
2011:1To:Don Kennedy, Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Susan Enfield, Chief Academic Officer
Ann Chan, Chief Talent Officer
Cc:Executive Management Team
From:Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson
Re:Immediate FY 10-11 Hiring/Spending Freeze
Date: December 8, 2010
We are currently in the process of developing the general operating fund budget for the 2011-2012 school year. As we do so, we prioritize activities that contribute to accelerating academic progress for all students, while at the same time being responsive to the current financial issues that both the school district and the state face.
Effective immediately the Human Resources Department will implement a hiring freeze of all non-grant and non-capital district positions to outside applicants. We will let you know when the hiring freeze is lifted. Also, a spending freeze will be put in place until further notice. Implementation of both strategies is for the purpose of restraining costs so as to reduce budget reductions in fiscal year 2011-12. Non-compliance with the provisions of this bulletin is subject to appropriate disciplinary actions. This accountability is especially critical because of two reasons: (1) the severe financial condition of the district, and (2) to adhere to the State Audit Office’s recommendation that district employees comply with district policies and procedures.
HIRING FREEZE
•Positions currently in the hiring process or advertisement phase will be filled by displaced employees and substitutes until the hiring freeze is lifted. Some positions may go unfilled.
Some positions, due to existing contract provisions, are exempt from the hiring freeze. These include positions required to be filled by collective bargaining agreements.
•Classified SEA represented positions will be filled by substitutes in lieu of regular classified personnel and after 60 consecutive workdays in the same assignment, substitutes will receive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
•Positions that are exempt per the I-609 contract will not be impacted by the hiring freeze.
•School based certificated positions are exempt from the freeze.
... more in next post
~so tired of it, too
We are aware that a hiring freeze may be especially burdensome for some positions and departments, so we have created an exception process. Exceptions to the hiring freeze include positions required by contract, positions associated with safety concerns, and positions where it can be demonstrated that an “extreme need” exists. Steps in the process include:1.Complete the form, “Request for Hiring Freeze Exemption” located at: http://inside.seattleschools.org/area/humanresources/formshr/HiringException.pdf.
2.Get approval and signature from your division director.
3.Send the approved request form to Human Resources, attention of Ann Chan, Chief Talent Officer
4.Susan Enfield, Chief Academic Officer, and Don Kennedy, Chief Financial and Operating Officer will review requests for exceptions.
5.Requests for exceptions will be reviewed each Friday.
If you have any questions, please contact your HR analyst.
SPENDING FREEZE
This freeze applies to discretionary expenditures in non-grant Central Support Department and Program budgets. Self Help budgets are excluded from this at this time. The Spending Freeze does not apply to Schools, Grants, School ASB funds, Trust funds or Capital Project funds.
Discretionary spending is defined as all non-salaried employee costs and includes:
•Hire of new hourly (temporary) employees
•Authorization of non-contractually mandated employee Over Time/Extra Time
•Personal Service Contracting
•Purchase of non-essential supplies, furniture and equipment
•Extended/Out of District travel not already approved
•Substitutes for central departments
Until the Spending Freeze is lifted, Central Business Offices; Accounting, Payroll, Purchasing and Human Resources, have been directed to return all requisitions, contract submissions, and hire forms dated on or after December 9th.
Exceptions: Departments and programs may continue to order basic supplies and materials from the Central Warehouse using the B2B system as well as submit local travel reimbursements.
Exemption Process for Spending Freeze: Waivers for critical exemptions to this freeze must include:
•A one paragraph narrative of why the exemption is critically needed
•The amount and funding source of the function or item requested for exemption
•Signed by director level in support of the request
•Submit waivers to: Duggan Harman for approval
• Requests for exemption will be reviewed each Friday
Employee Overtime/Extra: Any non-contractually mandated overtime incurred after December 10th has to be approved before the overtime is worked.
Requests have to be made on the overtime request form, located at: http://inside.seattleschools.org/area/budget/index.html
•The request has to be approved and signed by the requestor’s division director
• Submit signed requests forms to Duggan Harman, Executive Director of Finance, for approval
•Requests for overtime will be reviewed each Friday
• The payroll department will notify requestors via e-mail if the request has been approved or denied.
We know that these measures impact our employees, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding of the need to take this action. Thank you for your continued commitment to Seattle Public Schools and to our students.
###
~so tired of it, too
If the fiscal year is the same as the calendar year then there will only be a hiring freeze until Dec. 31 - correct?
What was the total cost of travel expenditures?
The hiring freeze does not effect school-based certificated hring:
"•School based certificated positions are exempt from the freeze."
So I'm not sure this would have an affect on the TFA rigamarole
"There is more here than meets the eye. I'm not sure about the messenger but I think I can read the message."
"the messenger"? Who are you talking about? The auditor that quit?
There are other reports in this same forum. This information was shared since 2008
I think it may be on the district's internal site which is password protected and not visible to the public.
Hey, district staff, little help?
-one with access