Conrad Weiser Area School District
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CONRAD WEISER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT JUNE 2010 The Honorable Edward G. Rendell Governor Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Mr. W. David Zwicky, Board President Conrad Weiser Area School District 44 Big Spring Road Robesonia, Pennsylvania 19551 Dear Governor Rendell and Mr. Zwicky: We conducted a performance audit of the Conrad Weiser Area School District (CWASD) to determine its compliance with applicable state laws, regulations, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures. Our audit covered the period February 16, 2006 through September 22, 2009, except as otherwise indicated in the report. Additionally, compliance specific to state subsidy and reimbursements was determined for the school years ended June 30, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005. Our audit was conducted pursuant to 72 P.S. § 403 and in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Our audit found that the CWASD complied, in all significant respects, with applicable state laws, regulations, contracts, grant requirements, and administrative procedures, except as detailed in the finding noted in this report. In addition, we identified one matter unrelated to compliance that is reported as an observation. A summary of these results is presented in the Executive Summary section of the audit report. Our audit finding, observation and recommendations have been discussed with CWASD’s management and their responses are included in the audit report. We believe the implementation of our recommendations will improve CWASD’s operations and facilitate compliance with legal and administrative requirements. We appreciate the CWASD’s cooperation during the conduct of the audit and their willingness to implement our recommendations. Sincerely, /s/ JACK WAGNER June 1, 2010 Auditor General cc: CONRAD WEISER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Board Members Auditor General Jack Wagner Table of Contents Page Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 1 Audit Scope, Objectives, and Methodology ............................................................................... 3 Findings and Observations .......................................................................................................... 6 Finding – School Bus Drivers’ Lacked Proper Documentation ..................................... 6 Observation – Internal Control Weaknesses in Administrative Policies Regarding Bus Drivers' Qualifications ................................................... 8 Status of Prior Audit Findings and Observations ....................................................................... 10 Distribution List .......................................................................................................................... 15 Auditor General Jack Wagner Executive Summary Audit Work Audit Conclusion and Results The Pennsylvania Department of the Our audit found that the CWASD complied, Auditor General conducted a performance in all significant respects, with applicable audit of the Conrad Weiser Area School state laws, regulations, contracts, grant District (CWASD). Our audit sought to requirements, and administrative answer certain questions regarding the procedures, except for one District’s compliance with applicable state compliance-related matters reported as a laws, regulations, contracts, grant finding. In addition, we identified one requirements, and administrative matter unrelated to compliance that is procedures; and to determine the status of reported as an observation. corrective action taken by the CWASD in response to our prior audit Finding: School Bus Drivers’ Lacked recommendations. Proper Documentation. Our current audit of bus drivers’ personnel files for the Our audit scope covered the period 2008-09 school year found two bus drivers February 16, 2006 through were transporting students without having September 22, 2009, except as otherwise the minimum required qualifications on file indicated in the audit scope, objectives, and (see page 6). methodology section of the report. Compliance specific to state subsidy and Observation: Internal Control reimbursements was determined for school Weaknesses in Administrative Policies years 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06 and Regarding Bus Drivers' Qualifications. 2004-05. Our current audit found that the CWASD had not implemented our prior audit District Background recommendations regarding bus drivers’ qualifications (see page 8). The CWASD encompasses approximately 110 square miles. According to 2000 Status of Prior Audit Findings and federal census data, it serves a resident Observations. With regard to the status of population of 23,777. According to District our prior audit recommendations to the officials, in school year 2007-08 the CWASD from an audit we conducted of the CWASD provided basic educational 2003-04 and 2002-03 school years, we services to 3,026 pupils through the found the CWASD had taken appropriate employment of 237 teachers, 176 full-time corrective action in implementing our and part-time support personnel, and recommendations pertaining to tuition 18 administrators. Lastly, the CWASD billing (see page 10) and membership errors received more than $10.4 million in state (see page 12). funding in school year 2007-08. Conrad Weiser Area School District Performance Audit 1 Auditor General Jack Wagner However, we found the CWASD did not take appropriate corrective action in implementing our recommendations pertaining to bus drivers’ qualifications irregularities (see page 13), Statements of Financial Interests (see page 13), nor our observation regarding bus drivers’ qualifications (see page 14). Conrad Weiser Area School District Performance Audit 2 Auditor General Jack Wagner Audit Scope, Objectives, and Methodology Scope Our audit, conducted under authority of 72 P.S. § 403, is not a substitute for the local annual audit required by the Public School Code of 1949, as amended. We conducted What is a school performance our audit in accordance with Government Auditing audit? Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United School performance audits allow States. the Department of the Auditor General to determine whether Our audit covered the period February 16, 2006 through state funds, including school September 22, 2009. subsidies, are being used according to the purposes and guidelines that govern the use of Regarding state subsidy and reimbursements, our audit those funds. Additionally, our covered school years 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06 and audits examine the 2004-05. appropriateness of certain administrative and operational While all districts have the same school years, some have practices at each Local Education Agency (LEA). The results of different fiscal years. Therefore, for the purposes of our these audits are shared with LEA audit work and to be consistent with Department of management, the Governor, the Education (DE) reporting guidelines, we use the term PA Department of Education, school year rather than fiscal year throughout this report. A and other concerned entities. school year covers the period July 1 to June 30. Objectives Performance audits draw conclusions based on an evaluation of sufficient, appropriate evidence. Evidence is measured against criteria, such as, laws, regulations, and defined business practices. Our audit focused on assessing the CWASD’s compliance with applicable state laws, regulations, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures. However, as we conducted our audit procedures, we sought to determine answers to the following questions, which serve as our audit objectives: Did the District follow applicable laws and procedures in areas dealing with pupil membership and ensure that adequate provisions were taken to protect the data? Is the District’s pupil transportation department, including any contracted vendors, in compliance with applicable state laws and procedures? Does the District ensure that Board members appropriately comply with the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act? Conrad Weiser Area School District Performance Audit 3 Auditor General Jack Wagner Are there any declining fund balances which may impose risk to the fiscal viability of the District? Did the District pursue a contract buyout with an administrator and if so, what was the total cost of the buy-out, reasons for the termination/settlement, and do the current employment contract(s) contain adequate termination provisions? Were there any other areas of concern reported by local auditors, citizens, or other interested parties which warrant further attention during our audit? Is the District taking appropriate steps to ensure school safety? Did the District use an outside vendor to maintain its membership data and if so, are there internal controls in place related to vendor access? Did the District take appropriate corrective action to address recommendations made in our prior audits? Methodology Government Auditing Standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings, observations What are internal controls? and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for Internal controls are processes our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. designed by management to provide reasonable assurance