Audit committee urges cleanup of carryover items, asks board to delay motions

Mister Daniels, chair of the Citizens Financial Audit Committee, told the school board the committee has two active audits with RSM — payroll and benefits, and maintenance work orders — and five open post-audit review items carried over from the previous auditor, CRI. He said the committee expects most items to be closed by December 2026 and urged the board not to act on motions until RSM and district staff can map out a clear remediation timeline.

Daniels highlighted two higher‑risk items: personnel-report deficiencies tied to PeopleSoft access and a 9% average inventory discrepancy at the MTC bookstore. “Some access to personnel files weren't closing fast enough to maintain security,” Daniels said, adding that a software update is expected to resolve the personnel item by December. On the bookstore discrepancy, he said turnover in staffing and year‑round process weaknesses likely explain the variance and that staff will follow up with counts at the end of June.

Board members pressed for specificity on timelines and controls. Board member Mister Kennedy and others supported the committee’s request to table motions that were drafted at the committee meeting so staff, the deputy superintendent and RSM can meet and produce a more targeted set of motions after the July meeting. Daniels said he will ask RSM and district leadership to define responsibilities, reporting cadence and closure dates before returning recommendations.

The board did not record any formal vote on the motions; Daniels requested they be held until committee and staff follow-up is complete. The committee reiterated that most findings do not constitute immediate legal or fiscal crises but require clearer processes to ensure timely remediation and to reduce repeat audit work and expense.

The board asked staff to return with more detailed timelines and a proposed path for closing the remaining items after the July meeting.