Questions on school district's forensic audit

It is my understanding that:

1. Phase 1 found 1,343 checks with no vendor names listed in the general ledger. That amounts to $8,305,032.95. We don’t know who/where $8.3 million went.

2. Also, 61 checks (no canceled check provided) with vendor names not listed in the general ledger. That is $352,498.53. This is another $352,000 that we don’t know where it went.

3. Also, 31 checks where the vendor name was different in the general ledger.

That is $19,640. We need to see those checks for $19,640.

4. Also, two checks were found in the bank statement, no canceled check, and the check number was not in the general ledger. Exactly $217,733. Who received $217,733.00?

Those numbers total $8,894,904.48.

Has the school board seen this list of discrepancies? When does the public get to see this list?

Also, are ESSER III funds missing in WBCSD?

In December 2023 $2.1 million was approved in ESSER III funds allocated for facilities. 

A public record request showed approximately $198,000 for facilities was spent in 2023. Where did $1.9 M of ESSER III funds go?

So now they want a levy.

The school board chair asked for financial suggestions for budgeting for 2024-25 school year. The two new appointed trustees both made impassioned speeches asking for a levy. They shared no knowledge about what the budgets were in the past or why it was needed. They did not acknowledge there is over $8 million unaccounted for.

Please come to the school board meetings and speak up. We definitely need to have the forensic audit finished before we can justify the need for a levy, and if so, the appropriate amount. 

MAUREEN PATERSON

Priest River