Auditor General DePasquale Announces Early Start of Performance Audit of Woodland Hills School District, Allegheny County
Auditor General DePasquale Announces Early Start of Performance Audit of Woodland Hills School District, Allegheny County
PITTSBURGH (Sept. 21, 2017) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said auditors will begin work Oct. 2 on an early, comprehensive performance audit of Woodland Hills School District, Allegheny County, at the request of local officials and members of the public over disturbances at the district’s high school and other operational issues.
“Earlier this summer, members of the Woodland Hills School District Municipal Council contacted me with concerns about the inability to educate and provide a safe environment for students, issues with fiduciary responsibilities and purchasing practices, as well as program and service cuts,” DePasquale said at a news conference here with municipal council members.
“While we were not scheduled to conduct the next audit of this district until late 2018, out of concern for students and taxpayers, I have directed my team to prepare to start the comprehensive performance audit now.”
Among the concerns raised by council members and the public are several incidents involving altercations between administrators, police and black students dating back to at least 2009. Recordings of several of the incidents made national news this summer. According to news reports, the FBI and Allegheny County District Attorney are investigating those incidents.
“I want to be very clear that my audit will not interfere with any investigations underway by the FBI or district attorney,” DePasquale said. “My team will cooperate fully with those law enforcement entities and share any information with them that we determine to be helpful in their review of the situation in this district.
“We must make sure that each and every one of Pennsylvania’s school districts — including Woodland Hills — provides a safe environment and quality education for all students while using taxpayer funds effectively and efficiently,” he said. “Anything short of that is unacceptable and irresponsible.”
The audit will cover July 2012 through June 2016 and may include:
- Financial stability,
- School safety,
- Governance,
- Academic performance,
- Contract management and monitoring,
- Administrator contract buyouts,
- Bus driver qualifications,
- Hiring practices,
- Teacher and administrator certification,
- Pupil transportation data collection and reporting,
- Membership data collection and reporting, and
- Other area(s) identified as significant during the course of the audit
A limited procedures engagement released in January 2016 reviewed the district’s internal controls, budgeting practices, and Right-To-Know Law and Sunshine Act compliance.
Woodland Hills School District serves the Allegheny County communities of:
- Braddock Borough
- Braddock Hills Borough,
- Chalfant Borough,
- Churchill Borough,
- East Pittsburgh Borough,
- Edgewood Borough,
- Forest Hills Borough,
- North Braddock Borough,
- Rankin Borough,
- Swissvale Borough,
- Turtle Creek Borough, and
- Wilkins Township.
# # #
Return to search results