Internal audit finds mostly minor issues; audit committee outlines oversight role
Summary
An internal audit presentation found no major findings at most sites, recurring procedural issues around gift cards and purchasing cards, and described the five-member audit committee charged with oversight of internal audit work.
Todd Wilson, representing the internal-audit function, presented the district's recent internal audits at the December workshop and reported generally positive results with a few recurring procedural issues.
Wilson said most sites had only "insignificant" findings and that inventory controls were strong across nearly all locations. Two recurring issues he identified were inconsistent gift-card handling and purchasing-card procedures, which he recommended addressing through structured, recurring training because turnover in bookkeeping and secretary positions contributes to repeated errors.
Wilson described the audit committee's composition and role: a five-member committee including an at-large member selected by the director of internal auditing, an appointee from the superintendent, a board appointee, a representative from the internal-auditing association and a representative of the Escambia Education Association. He emphasized the committee's independence and its purpose to provide nonbinding recommendations and professional skepticism when examining records and outside service organizations.
Board members thanked the audit team for the clean results; staff said they will continue targeted training to reduce recurring procedural findings. No formal policy changes or board votes on audit recommendations occurred at the workshop.
