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Waterloo Performance Audit by State Auditor DONE

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October 8, 2008

shttp://www.auditor.s...0243

Please visit the Auditor of State's (AOS) website above to see the full aduit report issued in the Performance Audit of Waterloo Schools.

The community has been questioning many issues of the last year and it has fallen on deaf ears. It is refreshing to see many of our issues confirmed by the AOS report.

PLEASE ATTEND BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 9th, 7:30 @ HS MEDIA CENTER

The report is 91 pages and most do not have time or patience to read. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE REPORT if you have time as the bullets below do not display the details of all areas of concern. Some of the recommended changes per the auditor are:
1.) "The District should consider implementing the recommendations in this performance audit and other appropriate actions to avoid the projected operating deficits. WLSD should regularly discuss options for reducing costs and/or increasing revenues with stakeholders to help guide long-term strategies for addressing projected deficits."

2.)Pursue various options to increase other revenues including preparing a quarterly(or monthly) investment for the Board to allow for shared decision-making, identifying a specific employee to be responsible for coordinating the District's grant activities, and using a separate cost center to account for non-routine transportation services.

3.)"Develop a more comprehensive purchasing policy that establishes minimum thresholds for obtaining price quotes and using competitive bidding, and that covers the process for request for proposals (RFP). Doing so will provide the Board with greater assurance that goods and services are being purchased at a fair price and that objective decisions are being made regarding vendor selection."

4.) "Conduct an in-depth review of its special education program to determine if the staffing levels comply with State minimum requirements." At time of the audit it was found that the school is in violation of the minimum requirements for special educaiton services.

5.)"Require employees to contribute at least 10% towards the monthly health care premiums. District should consider altering its annual deductibles, employee out-of-pocket maximums, and prescription co-payments to generate additional savings." Our staff pay nothing out of pocket for benefits.

6.)"Conduct annual surveys of its employees to solicit feedback, determine employee satisfaction, and assist the District in determining areas for improvement"

7.)"Develop formal energy management and conservation policies"

8.)"Review the factors affecting its overtime costs"

9.) "Update the maintenance plan". "Purchase a computerized maintenance management system."

10.)"Reduce its fleet by two active buses"

11.) "Address its high bus driver salaries by negotiating new salary schedules"

12.) "Explore the potential for contracting or pooling maintenance services with a neighboring district"

13.)"Develop a written preventative maintenance plan that specifies the frequency and level of vehicle inspections and maintenance activities."

14.) "Reduce special needs transportation costs"

Comments

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6.	Posted by dp October 11, 2008
	Also released, on the same list as the Waterloo Schools audit, was the performance audit for SPARCC (Stark Portage Area Regional Computer Center). The entities who are audited include school districts, fire districts, cities, villages, townships, county governments and public non-profits. Audits, when completed become public record and is a tool that can be used for planning.

5.	Posted by dp October 11, 2008
	1776 "We the People, in order to form a more perfect union . . . 2008 . . . should appreciate and embrace the benefits of dissenting opinion, healthy debate and honest dicourse." ajohnston's comments provide much information and insight not just for Waterloo Schools, but for the other 10 school districts in Portage County and the 18 township, 6 village and 4 city governments that make up these 11 school districts (plus Maplewood). Audits, performance or financial, are tools that can be used by all audited entities to confirm practices, discover discrepancies, strengthen the overall operation, and detect fraud. The State Auditor's office also answers questions, provides findings and determines corrective action. Also, the auditor's office provides the Open Government Office and Sunshine Laws (in addition to the Attorney General's office) for everyone, and will come to your community to present the three hour Public Records and Meetings seminar - for free. Public records belong to 'We the People', and We have a right, as well as duty, to watch our governments operate in a transparent manner. Schools can be learning centers for an entire community, not just 'school age' kids, and each of us has a stake (since we fund public schools) in the overall operation of the school district. Your school district, and the ten other districts in Portage County, plus those in the other 87 Ohio counties and 49 other states is unique to each community. Often a new set of 'eyes' can shed light on a problem and present new solutions and options. Most of those 'eyes' already exist in each community. However, looking beyond your school district can also be eye opening in a most beneficial way. The mission statement of The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions www.buckeyeinstitute.org is "a nonpartisan research and educational institute devoted to individual liberty, economic freedom, personal responsibility and limited government in Ohio." Public Records in Ohio and other states, the effort for true transparency in government, counties and school districts who have put their checkbooks online and yesterday's front page articles: Candidates Urged to Commit to Transparency if Elected and Will more $ improve education?. "...discenting opinions, healthy debate and honest discourse" will allow for a plan of action to be developed and implemented that will be best for each community, however defined.

4.	Posted by ajohnston October 11, 2008
	Any person with the slightest understanding of managing an organization, private or public, having the size and complexity of a school district will understand that waste and inefficiency are invariably present. Requesting an audit by an unbiased party is a good step at identifying these wastes and inefficiencies. Obviously, the management of the Waterloo School District understood that the results of their self-initiated audit would be open for public scrutiny and would evoke an emotional outburst from opponents of the current administration. Regardless, the management of the Waterloo School District pressed forward with the audit request. Although I have been critical of the Superintendent and some members of the Waterloo School Board, their decision to request the audit was a responsible and prudent decision. Now, they are at a crossroad. The Waterloo School District is seeking additional monies from the taxpayers. At the same time, they have an audit that recommends significant changes designed to save significant amounts of money. Should all the audit recommendations be adopted, the reduced expenses will only retard the immediate need for a levy. Alas, it seems that the most appropriate course of action would be to observe and implement the audit recommendations for expense reductions and continue to press for passage of the levy. As much as I hate paying additional property taxes, our system of school funding leaves us with little alternative. Lastly, the Waterloo School Board consists of several intelligent and educated people. Although some of them have forsaken their intellect to serve as impotent apostles of the Superintendent, I remain hopeful that the Waterloo School Board will execute prudent cost-cutting steps, exemplifying true leadership in these challenging times. For what it's worth, I am impressed with the debate and transparency that Denny Hopp has brought to the business of the Waterloo School Board. I believe that Denny has courageously offended the status-quo, risking alienation by his peers. His refusal to be subjugated to a tradition of undoubting agreement with the Superintendent is refreshing and constitutes a hallmark of the democratic process. Keep up the good work. We should appreciate and embrace the benefits of dissenting opinions, healthy debate and honest discourse.

3.	Posted by 4community1 October 9, 2008
	Now the things that the community has been saying are validated in an audit. I fully expect for the leaders of our school to forego any accountability and brush aside the relevance or significance of the issues detailed in the report. I, too, wish to see them openly discuss the issues, but know that they will not. "the teaching is in the words but the learning is in the silence." We learn each month from our school board and leaders of the school that community concerns are not any concern of theirs. So, Mr. SUPERintendent.... if you are indeed an educator then TEACH us why you care about the school and aren't just in it for yourself, your cronies and the lush paycheck along with the fainant atmosphere. Why? I can't see it, I don't get it...your arrogance is getting in the way of accomplishment. And that goes ditto for anyone unwilling to stand up to him - including principals or administration.

2.	Posted by caringforourcommunity October 9, 2008
	The school asked for this audit, and now they have concrete information on how to more efficiently run the school. I will expect to hear the board openly discuss some of the issues that the audit brought up at the board meeting tonight. It is obvious that changes need to be made, so I will look forward to the board fully disclosing what the auditor had to say.

1.	Posted by WaterlooDad October 8, 2008
	try this link: http://www.auditor.s...2/2008 Please take the time to read the audit. You will be shocked at some of things you will find. If anyone ran their business like our school system, they would be OUT OF BUSINESS in no time. All residents of Atwater and Randolph are "stake holders" as we all pay taxes for the school. There are few checks and balances and it seems the Superintendent and Treasurer are judge and jury for all that goes on. It is my belief that some belt tightening needs to happen before asking the community to pass a levy. The audit is proof to me they are NOT spending our money wisely.