Tangipahoa Parish School Board audit returns unmodified opinion, auditors report no findings

Auditors from Erickson Crentel told the Tangipahoa Parish School Board on Jan. 7 that the district's financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024, received an unmodified opinion and that no compliance or internal-control findings were required to be reported.

The audit presentation to the full board built on a longer briefing earlier to the finance and audit committees. Jim Tonglen, partner with Erickson Crentel, introduced the team and the work; Mike Caparata, senior manager, summarized results, saying the firm "issued an unmodified opinion on those financial statements, which means in our opinion, the financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles." Caparata added that there were "no findings required to be reported under government auditing standards" and that tests under the Uniform Guidance of federal-award expenditures likewise produced no reportable findings.

Board members praised the finance staff and the audit team for finishing the report before the holidays, noting that the district has had consecutive clean audits. Board members discussed public communication of the result; staff said they planned a press release and social-media posts to highlight the clean report and ongoing transparency. Tonglen described professional safeguards for auditors, including peer review and oversight by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, noting that the firm's reputation and external reviews help ensure audit quality.

Board reaction framed the clean opinion as evidence of continued fiscal controls and recordkeeping. No formal board action was required on the audit presentation at the meeting; auditors said they were available to answer follow-up questions and that the audit report will be part of the public record.