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Harrison County Schools board approves assistant finance director after finance staff warn of past control failures
Summary
After three finance staff members urged the board to formalize succession planning, the Harrison County Board of Education approved a new assistant finance director position in a 4–1 vote. Speakers described past audit lapses, missed filings and waived penalties as reasons for the change.
The Harrison County Board of Education on Oct. 27 approved a new assistant finance director position after members of the finance team told the board the district needs formal succession planning to prevent future financial instability.
Finance director Whitney Kynes told the board the district manages roughly $180 million a year — about $15 million a month — and described recurring control weaknesses that contributed to serious problems in 2022–23, including late financial reporting and unsubmitted federal withholdings. "There was no current plan for any other administrative position in Harrison County Schools," Kynes said during public comment, arguing the role would allow a trained successor to take over should the finance director leave or be incapacitated.
Two other finance staffers supported…
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