Why Does Our State Auditor Only Find Things Like The Sussex Tech Fraud From Tips? Are There More Sussex Tech Situations We Don’t Know About?

Delaware State Auditor Tom Wagner

Boom! Jack Wells sent one hell of an email to Delaware State Auditor Tom Wagner today.  This is one for the record books and opens up a whole new ballpark on the question of financial oversight of our school districts and charter schools!

TO: Mr. Thomas Wagner, Auditor of Accounts

This report reveals numerous problems that were “only” revealed because the Office of Auditor of Accounts {AOA} received an anonymous complaint on 1 July 2014. 

While I am concerned about the findings, I am even more troubled why these findings were not identified in the State of Delaware Statewide School Districts’ Construction Projects Attestation Engagements conducted in fiscal years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.  

Question: Since these reports did not reveal the problems identified in the report conducted by your auditors as a result of an anonymous complaint, can you inform me the purpose of these engagements/examinations?

Comment: Some findings were revealed, however the report ending June 30,2015 states: “Our examination disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards. Hopefully your answer to my question will disclose what must be reported under Government Auditing Standards.

While I am troubled by these findings, I have to wonder if these findings and others problems are not being revealed by the engagements/examinations that are being conducted each year. Provided below are the number of districts that are audited each fiscal year.

Fiscal Year     # of  School Districts  Audited

2012                   18

2013                   17

2014                   18

2015                   18

2016                   16

I have to wonder if the findings on Sussex Technical are only the tip of an iceberg.

Finally and even more troubling is the fact that audits required by law to verify expenditures of $2.3 billion annually for the education of our children were legal and used for the purpose provided are not conducted.

Amen Jack!  I am dying for these questions to be heard.  But I fear we will only hear the empty vacuum of space on this.

15 thoughts on “Why Does Our State Auditor Only Find Things Like The Sussex Tech Fraud From Tips? Are There More Sussex Tech Situations We Don’t Know About?”

  5. Sussex Tech’s Board should be removed and a new one in place- ELECTED. Better yet, under the transparent, effective leadership of Mark Steele or Heath Chasanov, why not have a district take it over? Enough is enough! The state could save a whole district’s worth of central office staff and truly offer what Tech was meant to be. Are you listening legislators?

    Liked by 1 person

  6. It is my understanding by law they have to but am sure they went directly into executive session. Who will be in charge as of tomorrow morning?

    Like

  7. Efficiency, transparency, fairness to ALL students, especially those with special needs who have been shut out or minimized to a point they just left. Many students with disabilities would benefit greatly from hands on skills education.

    Like

  8. If the AG does not have enough evidence to arrest Patrick Miller, they should make an example out of Sussex Tech’s administration’s flagrant violations of the law!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: News Journal Shows Bias And Fails To Publish Key Document In Kathleen Davies Fight Against Tom Wagner | Exceptional Delaware

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