St. Mary Parish School Board accepts clean audit for fiscal year ended 06/30/2025; one required finding noted

The St. Mary Parish School Board accepted the audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, after a presentation by Chris Miller of audit firm Darnell Sykes and Frederick.

Miller told the board the audit opinion was unmodified — commonly called a "clean" opinion — and that the report runs 123 pages. He said the firm tested selected federally funded programs (Title I and the Education Stabilization Fund) and found no instances of reportable noncompliance. Miller said the audit engagement also reviewed internal controls and state-law compliance and yielded an otherwise unmodified opinion with "one minor exception" related to a required reportable finding.

Miller identified that required finding as linked to an ongoing internal investigation at the central office, noting corrective actions have been taken; he did not provide further specifics in the public presentation. He also reported a separate minor exception in the district's uploaded personnel statistics (a single sample record had years-of-experience misstated by one year), which the auditors flagged for correction.

After the presentation, Miss Anslinger moved to accept the audit report and Mister Parity seconded; the board approved the acceptance by voice vote.

The board commended the central office finance team for its work producing the management's discussion and analysis that accompanies the report. Next steps identified at the meeting include tracking corrective actions related to the required finding and ensuring written responses or follow-up appear in future board materials.

Sources: Audit presentation by Chris Miller and motions during the Jan. 8 St. Mary Parish School Board meeting.