Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elite Audit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves audit-extension request for Elite Public Schools as charter files appeal with state controller
Summary
The board voted to grant Elite Public Schools an extension to complete required audits while staff and the school said a State Controller appeal is pending; trustees asked for clearer documentation about what was missing and for any future extension requests to include specifics.
The Solano County Board of Education approved a request to extend the audit deadline for Elite Public Schools after deliberations about missing documentation, statewide delays at auditors and an ongoing appeal to the State Controller’s Office.
Board staff and trustees pressed for clarity about the documentation gaps in the Assurance Information Exchange (AIE) and asked that any future extension requests include details on exactly which items remained outstanding. Trustee Dean summarized staff concerns as: "...the auditor did not receive a substantial amount of documentation that they needed," and asked for a clearer record of outstanding items if the matter returns to the board.
Dr. Ramona Bishop, Elite's CEO, addressed the board at length and said Elite had filed an appeal with the State Controller's Office on a prior fiscal audit finding and that several practical issues had slowed the current audit: third-party business-services delays, bank staff turnover at BMO, and errors in the student information system. Bishop told trustees the auditor had used a standard form letter and that she had asked the auditor to provide sufficient time to complete the work. "The appeal was filed prior... If it's a monetary penalty, we put it in the budget, and we move on," Bishop said.
After public comment and extended discussion, a motion to grant the extension passed by roll call. Trustees also directed staff to obtain more detailed information from the charter and its auditors if further extensions are requested, and to report back on the status of the 2023–24 audit appeal.
