SLPS reports management-assessment findings, outlines purchasing-card reforms and training

Finance leadership briefed the board on recommendations and corrective actions after a 2024 management assessment that identified gaps in internal audit capacity, inconsistent policies for superintendent-level oversight, and problems with purchasing-card use and documentation.

The assessment singled out that the district lacked an internal auditor, had limited oversight related to the superintendent’s office, and had board and administrative policies that were inconsistent around travel and purchasing-card use. It also identified that the superintendent’s office exceeded credit-card monthly limits in 2023–24 and that cardholder agreements and training had not been consistently required.

District staff described a series of corrective steps: the board on Feb. 11 approved revised finance policies, the district has reestablished an internal-audit function, the board and superintendent completed training on credit-card procedures, a central-office purchasing-card training was delivered in mid‑February and staff-level training will be rolled out to all employees who need cards. The internal auditor will periodically test compliance with new procedures; the central office is already being audited in initial reviews.

The district also said it had reconciled some agenda and bylaw changes to increase awareness reporting for items such as superintendent travel, credit-card activity and procurement. Board members requested clarifying language in the meeting materials (for example, replacing “the board of education” with “members of the board of education” where appropriate) and asked for more transparency on board-specific budgets (travel, postage and office supplies) and how school travel budgets are allocated equitably across athletics and CTE programs. District staff said principals control school-level budgets and noted grant-funded variations (for CTE travel).