Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich just announced Monday midmorning he will present results of his team's recent audit of the Rockwood School District at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Lafayette High School Theater in Wildwood.
Schweich will take questions from the audience as well.
Read previous article: Rockwood Audit Cost Actually is Unknown Says Missouri Auditors' Staffer
Spence Jackson, media director and spokesperson for Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich and staff, told Patch in July this audit was partially due to concerns voiced from a Rockwood watchdog coalition group called Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions. RS for RS representatives began a petition drive during the fall of 2011 for a state audit of the district, but the drive did not result in the required number of signatures to demand a state audit.
Patch asked Jackson why it had been 18 years since Rockwood had been audited by a state team. He said Missouri's State Auditing Office only was given the authority to audit school districts in the last few years when state statutes were changed.
"Before changes in Missouri's law, there were only two ways for a school district to be audited: through a petition, or by a directive from the governor," said Jackson.
Jackson told Patch Monday that the total costs of the audit, as well as auditors' recommendations, would be shared Wednesday night by Schweich.
Rockwood is not the only school district the state's staff is auditing. Jackson said a partial audit of the St. Louis Public Schools is under way, and may conclude in the next two months. They also have been auditing Lee's Summit R-7 School District near Kansas City. "But all our emphasis and most of our time has been spent on getting this Rockwood audit complete so results could be presented," he said.
FOX2 investigator reporter Elliott Davis just aired a related piece Sunday evening: You Paid For It – Rockwood School District Faces State Audit
Editor's Note: Patch is awaiting additional details from the Rockwood Communications staff.
Board President Strate and Directors Banton, Doell and Kinder voted to put Prop S on the ballot claiming it was "what the community wanted" supported by the Picture Rockwood community engagement process. However, when it came to the leadership of the district, they voted AGAINST the feedback received from the same process. http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/news/Pages/02252013SuptContract.aspx
The reason the State Auditor was asked to get involved was because when Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions brought the documentation and concerns to Dr. Borchers and his Cabinet, we were summarily dismissed. As Stakeholders of this district, we went to straight to the leader of our district to find resolution and solution to the problems and were turned away. The Elizabeth Holland report came out late September 2011. Dr. Borchers promised the community that the business practices of the district would change. The only real change came AFTER the field audit was completed. On Borchers contract extension: We’re disappointed. We’re disappointed that the Board continues to be so out-of-sync with the community in light of the overall negative comments about the Superintendent from the “Picture Rockwood” surveys. It’s a matter of trust and Dr. Borchers does not have the trust of the community. By continuing to support Dr. Borchers, the Board is also losing the community’s trust.
"RS for RS’s recommendations indicated that 86 cents of every instructional dollar went to support services, but at West Newsmagazine’s request, Eileen Tyrrell, RS for RS founder, took a second look at the numbers and said, “Another way to put it is that 46 cents goes for support services and 53 cents goes to instruction.”" Why should we trust that RS for RS really has the best interest of the district when they go from $.86 to $.46 so easily. That is a pretty large error to make. RS or RS claimed the district spent $189m a year when the actual amount was $101m per year. RS for RS miplaced $88m dollars while putting together their plan for the district. I would suggest people read that West County article to get a better feel for the situation as several of RS for RS points were found to be inaccurate. A few dealing with hiring contractors and dealing with bidding have been addressed as they should have been. http://www.newsmagazinenetwork.com/2012051518966/rockwood-report-card/
Our source for those figures comes directly from the 2011 Comprehensive Financial Statement provided to us by the Rockwood School District. You can obtain your own copy of this report by going on the district website and clicking on the community tab and than the finance department link. Do you own research. The figures have not changed. If you would like to hear more about the business operations and practices of our school district, simply attends today's meeting and hear the results of the State Auditor's findings. We look forward to readiing your perspective of the Auditor's report right here this evening or tomorrow. Respectfully, RS for RS