Chartiers-Houston School District audited by state
Chartiers-Houston School District was recently determined to be in a “potentiality financially declining position” following a performance audit conducted by the state Department of the Auditor General. The audit also determined the amount of money the district is paying its transportation contractor, Schweinebraten Bus Co., greatly exceeds the state Department of Education allowance.
The district was made aware of these findings and the fact that it failed to have all the necessary bus drivers’ qualifications on file in a letter from Auditor General Eugene DePasquale dated Jan. 8. The performance audit reviewed the period between May 6, 2011, through Sept. 15, 2014.
Chartiers-Houston business manager Don Bennett said the potential financial situation was no surprise to district officials. In June, the district furloughed six teachers in an effort to help bridge a $1.7 million gap in this year’s budget. The budget also included a 9.0125-mill tax increase and did not include the district’s annual $50,000 contribution to Chartiers-Houston Community Library.
Pension contributions were the largest factor in the budget and in the state’s concerns. Bennett said the state has been making similar observations “with nine out of 10 schools” it audits.
“Everyone’s facing the same issues right now,” he said.
Nonetheless, Bennett said the state commended the district’s efforts to address the matter.
“They were very complimentary because we did raise the millage and did have furloughs last year” he said. “We are taking actions to address the problems.”
As for the state’s observation that Chartiers-Houston was spending too much money on transportation, Bennett said the state’s method for calculating each district’s allowable amount is outdated. He said the district worked with Schweinebraten Bus Co. for the last 50 years.
The state auditor general’s office said there is no set monetary amount when determining what a district should pay its transportation contractor. Instead, the Department of Education uses a variety of parameters, including the number of students and the number of bus routes, to determine an appropriate allowance.
DePasquale said the district needs to do a better job of “holding down” transportation costs. Regardless, he said audits resulting in minimal to zero findings are considered good.
“This isn’t rated on a scale,” DePasquale said about the audits. “One finding is not considered being in the danger zone.”
Bennett said the 2013-14 budget for transportation was $960,000. He did not have this year’s figures available. The district could possibly consider putting its bus service out for bids when the current contract ends in June 2018, Bennett said.
Chartiers-Houston is audited by the state roughly every three years. Audits are focused on assessing districts’ compliance with certain relevant state laws, regulations, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures. The last audit found Chartiers-Houston compliant in all categories. A finding describes an area that is not in compliance and observations are reported when the state believes corrective action should be taken, according to the audit.
The state’s only finding, that proper documentation for the district’s bus drivers was not on file, was corrected before the state finished its audit, Bennett said.
“We had the proper documentation,” he said. “But we didn’t have the S certification on file. That was never mentioned in past audits.” Bennett said the certification shows that drivers are licensed bus drivers in the state. To ensure the issue wouldn’t present itself again, Bennett said a checklist must now be completed for each driver.
The audit was presented to Chartiers-Houston school board Monday and was unanimously approved, Bennett said.
“Overall, we were very pleased,” he said.