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Southampton school board resists countyled forensic audit amid large FOIA request load
Summary
Superintendent Gwendolyn Shannon and board attorneys told the county the school division will not submit to an unsanctioned forensic audit and said recent state audit found no adverse findings; the division described dozens of broad FOIA requests and said fulfilling them may require hiring outside help.
The Southampton County School Board said Monday it will not cooperate with a county-led forensic audit, after the county—s board of supervisors retained outside counsel and issued a series of document requests.
Superintendent Gwendolyn Shannon said the board has received a large volume of requests under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and that the school division—s attorneys have told the county the supervisors lack legal authority to mandate a forensic audit. "A forensic audit is an examination of financial records to derive evidence to prosecute a party for fraud, embezzlement, or other financial crimes," board counsel wrote in a letter quoted to the board. The school board said it is unaware of credible information justifying such an inquiry and pointed to the division—s June 2024 independent audit, which the school said produced no adverse findings.
Why it matters: The dispute pits the county—s supervisors against the school board over access to records and the scope of permissible review. Board members and staff warned the requests and any contested audit could strain…
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