Schools audit comes up clean Schools audit comes up clean (January 23, 2004)

Mountain View-Whisman district did well in 2002-2003

By Julie O'Shea

Just two months before voters will hand down the final verdict on Measure J -- Mountain View-Whisman's $1.6-million education tax -- the school district unveiled a glowing financial audit.

The state-mandated annual report, conducted by an independent Redwood City consulting firm, found nothing amiss with the district's 2002-2003 financial records. It was a welcome change from the previous fiscal year, when auditors uncovered two questionable practices and asked school officials to do a little housekeeping.

When the school board met earlier this month to discuss the 2002-2003 finance audit, its members were told that the district's books were in tip-top shape. The 53-page report, copies of which are available at the district office, scrutinizes every aspect of Mountain-View-Whisman's finances, picking apart its general fund and making sure money went where it was designated.

"Based on our audit, we found that, for the items tested, the Mountain View-Whisman School District complied with the state laws and regulations," the auditors wrote in their report, dated Oct. 22, 2003. "Further, based on our examination ... nothing came to our attention to indicate that the Mountain View-Whisman School District had not complied with the state laws and regulations."

Superintendent Jim Negri was pleased. "You want to come out with no findings," he said. "We are well-managed, and we are staying under our limits."

Last year's audit noted that Mountain View-Whisman, which currently serves roughly 4,400 students, did not maintain a record of its fixed assets, which district officials quickly submitted and will continue to track online.

The other issue the 2001-2002 audit touched on was the fact that some multi-funded district employees did not have adequate documentation. Soon after auditors made this finding, these employees were given timesheets to validate their extra pay.

But even though the district is staying under its limits, administrators are turning to the voters in the tight economy and ask for extra help keeping essential school services and programs running next year.

If approved by voters, Measure J, a $1.6 million parcel tax, will go toward after-school sports, counseling services and music and art programs, among other services. The tax measure, on the March 2 ballot, needs a two-thirds vote to pass.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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