Puerto Rico's Education Department faces scrutiny over mismanaged school records and storage issues
March 06, 2024 | Senate, Committees, Legislative, Puerto Rico
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The Puerto Rico Senate's Government Commission convened on March 6, 2024, to address significant findings from the OC 24 35 audit report concerning the management of educational records and facilities. The meeting highlighted critical issues regarding the storage and organization of academic documents from closed schools, which have raised concerns about compliance and accountability within the Department of Education.
During the session, auditors revealed that a leased building in Ponce, intended for storing educational materials, lacked essential services such as electricity and water. The stored equipment, including desks and computers, was found disorganized and without an inventory, complicating efforts to track and manage these resources effectively. Furthermore, important academic records from closed schools were improperly stored, with many documents left unclassified and exposed to environmental damage.
The commission emphasized the need for immediate corrective actions. Recommendations included allocating necessary funds for maintenance of closed schools, ensuring the installation of utilities in the storage facility, and appointing staff to oversee the management of these records. The commission also urged the regional educational office to conduct regular visits to prevent unauthorized access and vandalism of closed school properties.
The Inspector General of Puerto Rico, Ivelis Torres, also presented insights into the establishment of her office, which aims to enhance the independence and effectiveness of internal audits within the Department of Education. She noted a troubling absence of prior audit reports from the department, indicating a lack of oversight that has persisted since the office's inception.
The commission is expecting a corrective action plan from the Department of Education by June 1, 2024, to address these pressing issues. The outcome of this meeting underscores the importance of accountability in managing public educational resources and the need for systematic improvements to safeguard the integrity of academic records in Puerto Rico.
During the session, auditors revealed that a leased building in Ponce, intended for storing educational materials, lacked essential services such as electricity and water. The stored equipment, including desks and computers, was found disorganized and without an inventory, complicating efforts to track and manage these resources effectively. Furthermore, important academic records from closed schools were improperly stored, with many documents left unclassified and exposed to environmental damage.
The commission emphasized the need for immediate corrective actions. Recommendations included allocating necessary funds for maintenance of closed schools, ensuring the installation of utilities in the storage facility, and appointing staff to oversee the management of these records. The commission also urged the regional educational office to conduct regular visits to prevent unauthorized access and vandalism of closed school properties.
The Inspector General of Puerto Rico, Ivelis Torres, also presented insights into the establishment of her office, which aims to enhance the independence and effectiveness of internal audits within the Department of Education. She noted a troubling absence of prior audit reports from the department, indicating a lack of oversight that has persisted since the office's inception.
The commission is expecting a corrective action plan from the Department of Education by June 1, 2024, to address these pressing issues. The outcome of this meeting underscores the importance of accountability in managing public educational resources and the need for systematic improvements to safeguard the integrity of academic records in Puerto Rico.
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