Audit: Gadsden Elementary School District cost taxpayers 65K in trips
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SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A recent performance audit by the Arizona Auditor revealed the Gadsden Elementary School District Board cost taxpayers over $65,000 in unnecessary travel.
The May report states the District is responsible for the following:
- Paid employees for time not worked
- limited public access to some board meetings
- wasted $65,000 on trips to Coronado
- lacked oversight of transportation program
The Auditor General has forwarded the report to the Arizona Attorney General's Office, which could open allegations of open meeting law violations and more.
Read for the audit breakdown below:
"Finding 1: District’s poor administration of employee pay resulted in hourly employees being paid for holidays and other time not worked without documentation to support Governing Board approval and inappropriate payments to some employees"
Arizona Auditor
Auditors found Gadsden School District paid hourly employees for unworked time.
It was also discovered the district made strange payments to some
employees because it lacked the appropriate payroll policies and
procedures.
The district also lacks documentation showing the board approved these payments. Gadsden School District also paid large holiday wages to hourly employees and lacked approval documentation as well.
In response, Arizona Auditors suggest unworked pay should have been monitored. Also, the Board should review and approve hourly employee contracts and related payroll calendars.
"Finding 2: District limited public access to Governing Board meeting by holding it out of State and wasted more than $65,000 of public monies on unnecessary travel expenses"
Arizona Auditor
Contrary to State open meeting law, Arizona Auditors found Gadsden School District held Governing Board meetings out of State so that it was not easily accessible to the public.
The district's five-person school board has been visiting Coronado Island for a decade, reports the audit.
In 2018, the District wasted more than $16,000 of taxpayer money on unnecessary trip expenses for just one Board meeting— exceeding Arizona's travel policy allowances.
During the 2018 trip, the Board nearly spent $4,000 on meals alone.
Auditors determined from 2015 to 2019, the board's visits to Coronado cost taxpayers more than $65,000. Auditors say the money could have been better spent on teaching materials.
Attendees stayed in Coronado for two nights at a rate of $259. Meeting documents show the board meeting was held at Coronado's Marriott Resort. However the state cap is $167 a night.
Adhering to this could have saved $4,000.
When Auditors asked why Board meetings were held out-of state, they responded, "The District held this meeting in California to limit interruptions from the public."
"Finding 3: Inadequate oversight of District transportation
Arizona Auditor
program led to potential student safety risk,
reporting errors, and increased risk of fuel and
supplies misuse"
Auditors found the district lacked adequate procedures to ensure bus drivers met certification requirements. Also, the district lacked adequate documentation to demonstrate school bus preventative maintenance.
Effectively putting students at risk.
The district also incorrectly reported miles and riders, resulting in overfunding from the state.
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