Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Of School Audits and "Flimflams"
The Northwest Herald started its District 300 article off Tuesday with
Because District 300's auditor wasn't hired to look for any "flimflams."
Typically the auditor of a school district, including D300's, makes no representations about the honesty of D-300 officials or about theft, fraud, or misappropriation of the District's assets.
Goodness knows Huntley School District 158's board has learned that lesson. Its regular audits did not discover the payroll thefts. District 158 has hired a forensic auditor to look into misappropriations of taxpayer money.
Why is the assertion that no “flimflams” were found misleading?
Because it is not within the scope of work for which District 300 hired the auditor. In fact school district auditors almost always includes big disclaimers that it takes no responsibility for the detection of such criminal activities.
So who is hired by District 300 to specifically detect any theft, fraud or misappropriation of money?
Well, the answer is no one.
Yes, no flimflams were found, because no auditor was looking for them.
If the Northwest Herald wanted to inform its readers about the quality of work that District 300's auditor has performed in the past, it could have looked to see if it is the same audit firm, under a "got purchased by" new name, who missed millions in errors in Huntley District 158.
So when was the last time District 300 paid someone to go over its books looking for theft, fraud and misappropriation of assets?
I doubt you will have this discussed at a public meeting.
Wasn't there a use of a District 300 credit card for personal use hubbub hushed up a while back?
Rest easy NW Herald readers, no flimflams were found because no one went looking for them.
A financial audit of District 300 released Tuesday showed no financial flimflamsWhy is this misleading?
Because District 300's auditor wasn't hired to look for any "flimflams."
Typically the auditor of a school district, including D300's, makes no representations about the honesty of D-300 officials or about theft, fraud, or misappropriation of the District's assets.
Goodness knows Huntley School District 158's board has learned that lesson. Its regular audits did not discover the payroll thefts. District 158 has hired a forensic auditor to look into misappropriations of taxpayer money.
Why is the assertion that no “flimflams” were found misleading?
Because it is not within the scope of work for which District 300 hired the auditor. In fact school district auditors almost always includes big disclaimers that it takes no responsibility for the detection of such criminal activities.
So who is hired by District 300 to specifically detect any theft, fraud or misappropriation of money?
Well, the answer is no one.
Yes, no flimflams were found, because no auditor was looking for them.
If the Northwest Herald wanted to inform its readers about the quality of work that District 300's auditor has performed in the past, it could have looked to see if it is the same audit firm, under a "got purchased by" new name, who missed millions in errors in Huntley District 158.
So when was the last time District 300 paid someone to go over its books looking for theft, fraud and misappropriation of assets?
I doubt you will have this discussed at a public meeting.
Wasn't there a use of a District 300 credit card for personal use hubbub hushed up a while back?
Rest easy NW Herald readers, no flimflams were found because no one went looking for them.
Comments:
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I'm beginning to think that every reporter assigned to a school article should be given actual training in what questions to ask.
Reporters do receive that training on what questions to ask; unfortunately, in most cases it is a school board president or superintendent that does the training
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