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SFUSD accepts 2016–17 audit; auditors flag attendance documentation and one school's instructional‑minutes shortfall
Summary
The San Francisco Unified School District board accepted the FY2016–17 audit, which received a clean opinion from external auditors but included findings about substitute‑teacher attendance documentation and one school's shortfall in required instructional minutes; staff said procedures have been strengthened and follow‑up will be reported to the board.
The San Francisco Unified School District board voted to accept the district’s annual audit for the year ended June 30, 2017, after a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Rita Matavan and external auditor Nathan Edelman.
Edelman told the board the audit produced a clean (unmodified) opinion on the district’s financial statements. He also described findings the audit team reported: documentation gaps related to the way substitute teachers’ paper attendance records were transcribed into the electronic system, and a single school whose instructional minutes fell below the state minimum because of a scheduling decision. "It doesn't mean the attendance was wrong," Edelman said of the documentation finding, "it just means the district couldn't support all of the attendance." He added that the district had already put additional procedures in place to reduce recurrence.
Board members asked staff to follow up with details about the attendance finding and the school identified for instructional‑minutes noncompliance. Commissioner Norton referenced media reports and asked for the state correspondence noted in public reporting; staff agreed to report back with more information.
Commissioners also discussed potential state penalties tied to instructional minutes. The auditor explained that the penalty calculation can be complex; in the meeting exchange a commissioner cited a figure of about $138,000 and the auditor described net impacts that could be different once all adjustments are considered.
The board approved the audit by roll call vote (6 ayes). Staff said the full report is posted on the district website and that they will return to the board with follow‑up information about attendance controls and the specific instructional‑minutes correction.
Next steps: staff to report back with follow‑up information on attendance documentation and the instructional‑minutes finding and the steps taken to prevent future occurrences.
