External auditors deliver clean opinion on CUSD 2024 financials; trustees approve report

Nigro & Nigro partner Jessica Miller presented the Capistrano Unified School District's annual audit process and report during the board's Jan. 28 meeting, saying the firm issued an unmodified (clean) opinion and that the audit contained no new findings for the year under review.

Miller described the audit process in three stages: site visits that sample attendance and ASB transactions, a springtime controls and compliance review with district staff, and a fall review of the closed books and unaudited actuals that ties financial statements to supporting documentation. She said attendance testing is a material component because attendance drives funding, and she summarized required schedules and additional opinion letters for federal and state compliance.

Trustees asked follow‑up questions about the auditor's sample rotation and ASB testing. Miller said the state audit guide sets sample‑size requirements (a grade‑level rotation that covers 20% of sites), that ASB testing focuses on cash receipts and disbursements at middle and high schools, and that booster organizations are not audited unless they donate directly into an ASB account.

The board moved to accept the district and community facilities district annual financial reports; the motion carried 6–0–1 by voice vote.

Background/context: Miller said the audit report includes management's discussion and analysis, the full financial statements and notes, schedules such as average daily attendance and federal expenditures, and concluding opinion letters for governmental, federal and state standards.

Next steps: Staff will publish the audit report and the separate community facilities district audit, and trustees said they welcome follow‑up questions from the public or deeper dives into specific audit areas.