Audit clean but district short roughly $23,000 for additional weapons detectors; pro-officer staffing remains constrained

Randolph County Schools’ finance staff presented a clean FY25 audit and an improving budget picture, but board members flagged a roughly $23,000 shortfall to install additional weapons detectors and ongoing staffing limits for pro officers at the high school.

Finance staff told the board the FY25 audit received an unmodified (clean) opinion, with no management letter comments and no internal-control weaknesses identified. The presenter said a new accounting standard on compensated leave was adopted on entity-wide statements but does not affect fund-basis operations. On fund balances, staff reported about $2.8 million in unassigned fund balance at the fund level.

Turning to safety equipment, the finance presenter said the weapons detection account currently holds $15,082.45. Earlier purchases for two detectors had cost about $38,362.25, leaving an approximate funding gap of $23,000 to buy two additional units. Board members discussed options to raise the remainder — including fundraising and requesting county commission assistance — and agreed to seek additional funds and report back.

Board members also discussed staffing the schools with pro officers. Members noted that promotions and training requirements reduced the pool of deputies eligible to serve as pro officers and that JAG grants historically helped fund those positions. Several members said it is difficult to rely on untrained staff to perform security duties and emphasized the district needs trained law enforcement officers or grant funding to sustain coverage.

The finance section items were approved by voice vote 5-0.