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PGCPS internal audit reports 160 hotline complaints in half-year; aims to recategorize complaints and expand audits
Summary
Director of Internal Audit Dina Thorpe told the audit committee the office issued 10 investigation reports, 10 school activity fund audits and five operational/IT audits year-to-date, processed 160 hotline complaints in the July–Dec 2025 period (down from 268 in 2024), and plans a pipeline of audits including grants, tuition reimbursement, fleet management and a transportation follow-up audit.
Dina Thorpe, Director of Internal Audit for Prince George's County Public Schools, presented the semiannual internal audit work plan to the audit committee on Feb. 9, outlining accomplishments, current activity and near-term audits. Thorpe said the office follows board policy 8373 and conducts work in accordance with professional standards (AICPA and the Government Accountability Office's Yellow Book).
Thorpe reported the office issued 10 investigation reports, 10 school activity fund audits and five operational or IT audits so far in fiscal year 2026. She said the internal audit hotline produced 160 complaints logged between July 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025, down from 268 during the same period in 2024. Thorpe cautioned that item categorization is inconsistent because complainants sometimes select issue categories that do not match the substance of their report; she gave the example of items labeled "kickbacks" that are more properly classified as school or office management or personnel matters. She said her team is recategorizing FY25 items and will clean up categories going forward.
Thorpe reviewed completed reports and the reasons some final reports were delayed: the office issues draft reports and waits for auditee management responses and action plans, sometimes receiving them late which delays final issuance. She listed recently completed or finalized work: purchasing and supply services contracts (finalized Nov. 17, 2025), special education follow-up (initiated FY25, finalized this year), GRAMA change validity (state-mandated, issued in September 2025), capital improvement program audit and an Xonar Technology Systems IT audit. She said open and planned audits include a grants audit (to cover grants not part of single-audit procedures), an eDoctrine IT review, a tuition reimbursement audit (entrance conference 01/13/2026), fleet management planning, a transportation follow-up to validate implementation of transportation audit recommendations, and planning for an Apex IT audit.
On school activity funds, Thorpe said completed audits vary in the number and type of findings and that 16 additional SAF audits are in the pipeline. Common deficiencies include mismanagement of funds received, incomplete fundraiser reporting, delinquent monthly bank reconciliations and disbursement problems. Regarding investigations, Thorpe said some allegations were substantiated, some partially substantiated and some unsubstantiated; to protect confidentiality she did not name locations in the public presentation.
Board members commended the audit office for increased trend analysis and asked for clearer public communications so external complainants choose the most accurate categories. Thorpe said she plans FAQs and possibly short explanatory videos on the hotline web page and will coordinate with communications staff to reduce misclassification and improve trend accuracy in future reporting. She closed by reiterating that more audit reports and recategorizations will be issued in the coming weeks and months.
