tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post913262467158400885..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Again, with the Bad AuditMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25095593518469678972011-07-04T22:37:03.091-07:002011-07-04T22:37:03.091-07:00and still:
http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/au...and still: <br /><br />http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1005937.pdf<br /><br />FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS<br />We evaluated internal controls and tested compliance with the federal program requirements, as applicable, for the District’s major federal programs, which are listed in the Federal Summary section of the financial statement and single audit report. That report includes federal findings regarding:<br />A lack of adequate internal controls to ensure the required parent committee is established for its Indian Education program.<br />A lack of adequate internal controls to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements for its Indian Education program.<br />The District did not comply with federal requirements for time and effort documentation related to its Indian Education program and Special Education programs. Time and effort documentation assures that salaries and benefits charged to federal programs are accurate and valid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3358077920269491582011-07-01T13:43:00.153-07:002011-07-01T13:43:00.153-07:00Here's a link to the report: Audit ReportHere's a link to the report: <a href="http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1005937.pdf" rel="nofollow">Audit Report</a>The Real Arnoldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75550912016704270742011-07-01T13:40:11.832-07:002011-07-01T13:40:11.832-07:00"...what Michael DeBell was alluding to - tha..."...what Michael DeBell was alluding to - that the policies are out-dated."<br /><br />I was at that meeting, and Michael was not referring to ASB rules in general. He was referring to those dollar limits mentioned in teh report. The report mentions dollar limits for middle and high schools and some league(???). The auditors told him that those amounts were exceeded at the schools they looked at. So, they told him that the district was violating its own policy by having larger dollar amounts in the actual accounts or records.<br /><br />And, Michael, nor the Board, can change the ASB rules and regs since those are laid out in state law. And be careful spending that money on food - I heard the auditors were all over someone that did that. It would also be somewhat like the MGJ party for retirees - spending public money on food is not a good thing, whether its for students or adults.In the knownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55625974936120835602011-07-01T13:29:08.337-07:002011-07-01T13:29:08.337-07:00@Seattle Citizen: "Sooo...if the Alliance was...@Seattle Citizen: "Sooo...if the Alliance was supposed to accept the money from Garfield, then pass it onto a district account, wouldn't the district be aware that the Alliance was serving this "fiscal officer" position, and hence be in violation of the law (which law is it, by the way)?"<br /><br />The Garfield High School Foundation is a private (non-district, non-public) entity. They can choose whoever they want as their fiscal agent, or handle the moeny themselves. They happen to have chosen the Alliance. The GHS Foundation is separate from the actual high school itself which, as we all know, is part of the district - which is a public entity. From the way I read it in the audit, the Alliance was not supposed to be passing money to the district (why would the district need to do that if the district staff collected the money in the first place?? they would just need to send it downtown), it was supposed to deposit the money in an account for the private foundation. The mistaken coach thought that giving it to the school's fiscal specialist (an employee of the district) to deposit it with the Alliance for the benefit of the private foundation was appropriate. The coach was wrong in doing that. The district itself has a separate set of accounts (not bank accounts, but accounts in the district books for each school) for private money that is donated directly to the district that is meant for specific schools.<br /><br />The audit doesn't imply that the Alliance did anything wrong. It just says that some auditors contacted the Alliance to see if they received the money from the basketball event, money that was meant to be directed to the private foundation.<br /><br />There just needs to be a clear distinction and understanding on everyone's part as to what is meant by "your school fund". The Alliance can handle private money (non-ASB). They cannot handle or be the custodian of public money - that has to go into a public bank account. The devil is in the details. Its very clear that words mean specific things in this context.In the know (not abbreviated)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39027449282332945692011-07-01T13:28:55.658-07:002011-07-01T13:28:55.658-07:00Fiestas, yes and I think that's what Michael D...Fiestas, yes and I think that's what Michael DeBell was alluding to - that the policies are out-dated. IMelissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78089471121615333772011-07-01T13:25:50.241-07:002011-07-01T13:25:50.241-07:00As a club adviser I found the ASB rules to be pret...As a club adviser I found the ASB rules to be pretty arcane. ASB rules should be simplified. No need for a 'self help' account versus a 'club account'. Just one account that is entirely comprised of student raised funds. Unlike now it should be able to pay for food or t-shirts and not need reimbursement because the students already raised that money. Sure ASB is a fiasco...because the rules are a fiasco.<br /><br />-Fiestas rather than FiascosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15560405643632041032011-07-01T11:38:14.467-07:002011-07-01T11:38:14.467-07:00Melissa,
Is there a link somewhere to the audit?
T...Melissa,<br />Is there a link somewhere to the audit?<br />Thx.ITK (abbreviated)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29875874605311336322011-07-01T10:55:38.305-07:002011-07-01T10:55:38.305-07:00One important issue is that the state audits do no...One important issue is that the state audits do not have any teeth to them, they serve to make public the various issues that are discovered. It requires the board of directors to act upon and ensure that the superintendent and the district perform supervisory duties and address problems that may arise. The Moss Adams report following Olchefske's $36 million + scandal, as well as subsequent audits appear to have been slipped into a deep drawer or onto some high shelf at headquarters and no substantial action has been taken.<br /><br />Some that have questioned my call for a forensic audit of district headquarters operations are correct that in and of itself such an audit will not resolve the long simmering problems. It will require a board of directors that adequately supervise their one employee, the superintendent; as well as all in the district being held accountable. <br /><br />It appears as though some of these foundations set up for schools were established to avoid the legal constraints of ASB funds. State law is very clear and explicit regarding the handling and use of such funds, but not so much regarding PTSA and foundation funds.<br /><br />The Alliance has morphed into an interesting entity that is worthy of some consideration and scrutiny. Originally, had been established to assist with public donations and support of the district (outside of the tax support being provided). It is unlikely that most in our city understand the nature and purpose of the Alliance or how donations are dispersed for that matter.<br /><br />A good deal of complexity to be sure, but worth efforts to untangle and shed light upon for the sake of our schools and the students that are served.<br /><br />TerrenceTerrence J. Menage, Ed.D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5398878913118704702011-07-01T09:46:01.330-07:002011-07-01T09:46:01.330-07:00Thank you Melissa for doing the job the flaccid Se...Thank you Melissa for doing the job the flaccid Seattle Times doesn't have the cajones to do.<br /><br />Mr EdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89032227442046483912011-07-01T08:47:37.906-07:002011-07-01T08:47:37.906-07:00In the know said that the "Alliance is not a ...In the know said that the "Alliance is not a fiscal agent for the district or any of the schools. If you know this is happening you should report it."<br /><br />The state audit says that the "Alliance for Education is the fiscal agent of the Garfield High School Foundation."<br /><br />The audit seemed to indicate that the money trail for a fundraiser was supposed to go from the ticket booth to the coach (it was a basketball game) to the school's fiscal specialist to the Alliance (which was apparently the "fiscal agent of GHS Foundation" to a bank account somewhere (does it get given to a district officer, who then deposits it? Or is it directly deposited by the Alliance? Into a Foundation account or a dedicated Disrict "funds raised" account? I don't know the answer to either of these - who at district or which account.)<br /><br />Sooo...if the Alliance was supposed to accept the money from Garfield, then pass it onto a district account, wouldn't the district be aware that the Alliance was serving this "fiscal officer" position, and hence be in violation of the law (which law is it, by the way)?<br /><br />Methinks that even though the Alliance might not have done anything intentionally imporper in this case, a deep investigation into its general role as some sort of go-to for PTSAs ("many," according to Melissa) might be in order. In addition to clarifying and making legal whatever it is doing, such an investigation might daylight (add "transparency"!) the Alliance's role in handling other monies, such as Gates grants - where does the money go, to what benefit, where are the data (is the data...) that measures teh Gates->Alliance->District benefits (and costs) to our students realized by money the Alliance channels?<br />I'd expect the same sort of oversight of the new League of Education Voters/New School partnership - evidently, LEV will be helping fund New School: I want to know whose money, is it properly accounted for, and what are the impacts of it on our public school students.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24950180822448816272011-07-01T08:34:45.002-07:002011-07-01T08:34:45.002-07:00In the Know, I will have to check because maybe I ...In the Know, I will have to check because maybe I am using the wrong wording. I know that many PTSA use the Alliance to handle their donations. I think I was assuming that was a fiscal agent role. <br /><br />I didn't mean PTA should handle ASB money but that a qualified parent could. Someone has to get the money deposited to the ASB account (clearly); I'm just not sure it has to be a district person. <br /><br />I also didn't say that the Alliance should handle ASB money.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44935333855163354792011-06-30T22:02:38.352-07:002011-06-30T22:02:38.352-07:00SPS to date refuses to use an efficient means of t...SPS to date refuses to use an efficient means of tracking ASB Daily deposits. Most bookkeepers still keep ledgers! Step into the 21st century, look at how the eastside districts manage school funds using Quicken and HD Baker's program for ASB. The diowntown office could then track what's going ob daily from the district office vs, having to go to the schools.<br /><br />When will someone hold the district accountable for doing things more efficiently when there's the means to do it?!!!<br /><br />SCHOOL BOARD?!!! <br /><br />While SPS is not the eastside, sometimes they are a bit more progressive when it comes to handling dollars.Waiting fir SPS to step into the 21st centurynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50452449107114474702011-06-30T21:42:14.527-07:002011-06-30T21:42:14.527-07:00Melissa:
With all due respect, you are not correc...Melissa:<br /><br />With all due respect, you are not correct. ASB money should not be handled by a private group like a PTSA or the Alliance. That is not legal. ASB money is to be deposited in a district account per state law and other regulations. If parents are writing checks to the PTSA thinking it goes to "ASB", they are mistaken. And if the Alliance is holding money that should be ASB money, that is a big problem. The Alliance is not a fiscal agent for the district or any of the schools. If you know this is happening you should report it.<br /><br />Money collected by a PTSA should be from activities that they conduct. Donations to the Alliance for whatever purpose should be made directly to the Alliance. Schools should not be sending any money to the Alliance if it is ASB money.<br /><br />This is just FYI. Check your sources.In the knownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16017134043835582011-06-30T21:26:15.017-07:002011-06-30T21:26:15.017-07:00Thanks, Melissa!Thanks, Melissa!Speechlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90843114744883638672011-06-30T20:24:20.770-07:002011-06-30T20:24:20.770-07:00Speechless, it goes to your school fund. Some sch...Speechless, it goes to your school fund. Some schools use the Alliance as a fiscal agent for both security reasons and not having to find a new parent every year to handle the finances. However, of course, there is someone at each school taking in those funds and you are only as good as that person. Clearly there were issues at Garfield. You should ask your PTA treasurer how funds are handled.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22625007140693584142011-06-30T19:03:20.414-07:002011-06-30T19:03:20.414-07:00I meant "write a check"...
But the main ...I meant "write a check"...<br />But the main question is, who has control over the money? Isn't there a way to stop this ridiculuous series of "losing money" events?Speechlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69298108528845266482011-06-30T19:00:29.213-07:002011-06-30T19:00:29.213-07:00Whenever my kids go to a field trip we right a che...Whenever my kids go to a field trip we right a check to the ASB's school fund. Does this money go to a district wide pool or a school account?Speechlessnoreply@blogger.com