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Chief auditor responds to board feedback, pledges data‑driven audit changes and clarifies limits on operational training
Summary
After trustee feedback about engagement and communications, the district’s chief auditor outlined actions to strengthen analytics and described constraints tied to auditing standards that limit auditors’ role in providing operational training to staff.
Chief Auditor David Rhodes addressed trustee feedback on his annual evaluation at the Aug. 20 workshop, describing both immediate action steps and limits imposed by auditing standards.
Rhodes said the Office of the Chief Auditor will expand the unit’s use of data analytics and noted continuing professional education plans — including training on artificial intelligence and analytics — to help auditors identify trends and anomalies. He provided examples of collaborative reviews the office has produced (for example, laptop distribution and classroom‑testing schedule adjustments) and said some audit activities had been timed to avoid operational disruption.
Several trustees and public commenters praised the auditor’s independence and integrity but sought stronger board engagement and clearer communications about audit results. Rhodes explained the distinction between audit work and operational training: professional audit standards (the Government Auditing Standards, aka the Yellow Book) require objectivity and prohibit auditors from providing the very training they later evaluate, though auditors can identify gaps and recommend training topics for operational staff.
The board did not take formal personnel action. Trustees requested that the auditor document the office’s expanded analytics capabilities, and several asked staff to provide the Board with evidence of follow‑through on recommended audit remedies in future reports.
