Grain Valley R‑V audit receives clean opinion; single‑audit report remains a draft pending OMB guidance

Bria n Eckoff, an auditor with Westbrook and Company, told the Grain Valley R‑V School District board at its workshop that the district's financial statements received an unmodified (clean) opinion but that the single‑audit report must remain stamped as a draft until the Office of Management and Budget finalizes its annual data compliance supplement.

Eckoff said the district's audited statement of activities shows the district recorded about $73 million in revenues and $94 million in expenditures for the year, with an overall decrease in fund balances of nearly $12 million. He said food service operations cost the district about $527,000 this year, while community services were approximately breakeven at $17,000.

The auditors reported about $31 million combined across the district's four major funds as of June 30: nearly $14 million in the general fund, $9.5 million in debt service and roughly $8 million in capital projects. Eckoff highlighted that the district's unassigned general‑fund balance (day‑to‑day operations) stood at roughly $12.8 million.

Eckoff described the federal audit requirement that triggers a single audit: because the district exceeded $750,000 in federal expenditures it must undergo the Uniform Guidance single audit. He said the OMB "has not released" the final data‑compliance supplement and that, until it is released, auditors are not allowed to finalize and publish the single‑audit report. "We are not allowed to release a single audit until this is finalized," Eckoff said. He added that if changes are required after the supplement is finalized, the audit firm will perform any additional work and return to the board as needed.

On federal program testing, auditors focused on the child nutrition cluster and Title I programs. Eckoff said auditors did not identify deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting or federal programs; the auditor's report calls the financial statements "presented fairly." He also noted that because the district presents cash‑basis financial statements rather than accrual basis, it will not qualify for a "low risk" auditee status under Uniform Guidance and therefore must be subject to a higher percentage of program testing.

Eckoff drew attention to two operational recommendations: a correction to attendance records made during the audit process and a recommendation from the state auditor that districts adopt procedures to limit when and how long staff may modify student attendance records. "You should put in some sort of policy or procedure to limit how often and how long they can modify the attendance," he said. District administrators told the board work on attendance procedures is underway.

Board members asked clarifying questions about audit scope, and Eckoff confirmed Westbrook and Company's engagement was limited to a financial statement audit; the firm can provide separate agreed‑upon procedures or consulting engagements for operational testing if the district requests them.

The board was not asked to approve the audit at the workshop; administrators told members the single‑audit finalization will be brought back for approval in a later meeting once OMB releases the data compliance supplement or when any required follow‑up work is complete.

The audit presentation closed with board members thanking the audit team and noting they would review the detailed communication and required‑communication attachment added to the board packet.