Jenison Public Schools gets clean audit; auditors flag excess in food-service fund

Joel Korson, a representative of external auditors Maner Costerisan, told the Jenison Public Schools Board of Education on Oct. 13 that the district's 2024'25 financial statements received an unmodified opinion, the highest level of audit assurance.

Korson said auditors found no findings, significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in federal-award testing (the Special Education Cluster was selected for testing). He drew the board's attention to three technical and programmatic items: a GASB 101 restatement for compensated absences, continuing bond spending, and an excess balance in the Food Service Fund.

The audit packet reported $1.4 million spent from the 2020 school building and site bonds and $6.0 million spent from the 2024 bonds during the audit year. The district also reported about $343,000 of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were spent in the year and that, overall, ESSER funds have been fully expended.

On the Food Service Fund, the management letter noted an excess balance and recommended the department develop a plan to responsibly use those funds in ways that comply with program rules. The auditors did not identify internal-control weaknesses related to federal awards or to the financial reporting that would change the audit opinion.

Board members and district staff praised the Business Office for its preparation. Dr. Brandon Graham highlighted the accounting team's work and singled out accounting staff for thoroughness; he said one staff member "ensures the best quality by crossing his t's and dotting his i's." Stephen Baab, identified in the meeting as the district's accounting supervisor, was thanked by auditors and administrators for his role in preparing the district records for review.

Why it matters: An unmodified opinion indicates the district's financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects. The clean audit and positive fiscal indicators cited by auditors and administration (timely payments and a healthy fund balance) were presented as factors that can help the district in future bond-market activity.

The auditors noted planned technical accounting changes (GASB 101) and programmatic guidance for the Food Service Fund but did not find material misstatements or compliance failures. The district said it will present an amended budget in December and that staff are developing plans to address the Food Service Fund balance.

Provenance: Audit presentation and discussion: Board meeting presentation by Joel Korson and district staff (Oct. 13 meeting).