Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for School Districts in Seven Counties


May 21 2020
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Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for School Districts in Seven Counties

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HARRISBURG (May 21, 2020) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for school districts in Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Indiana, Northumberland, and Pike counties.

"My audits help ensure schools are being run efficiently and effectively, so that students and teachers can focus on learning and resources are focused on educating students, whether in the classroom or online due to the coronavirus," DePasquale said.

The Department of the Auditor General examines the records of school districts, charter schools, intermediate units, and area vocational-technical schools. The audit assessments include whether school entities received the state subsidies and reimbursements to which they were entitled, accurately managed taxpayer funds, and complied with ethics codes. The audits also determine whether teachers and administrators were properly certified for the positions they held during the audit period.

Pennsylvania schools remain closed due to the coronavirus, but DePasquale’s audit team continues to work remotely with school officials to keep audits moving forward.

The full audit reports are available online using the links provided below.

Allegheny County

South Fayette Township School District

Complied, in all significant respects, with applicable state laws, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures except for one finding: the district inaccurately reported the number of nonpublic school students transported, resulting in an overpayment from the state of $107,800.

Armstrong County

Leechburg Area School District – No findings.

Cambria County

Westmont Hilltop School District  

Complied, in all significant respects, with applicable state laws, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures except for the following findings: the district failed to retain required documentation to support $1.6 million received for transportation reimbursements from the state. The district also failed to comply with state law by not retaining records and lacking sufficient monitoring procedures in contracting school bus drivers as well as failing to conduct monthly fire drills and keeping required fire and security drill documentation. The district also failed to accurately report nonresident student data to the Pennsylvania Department of Education resulting in an underpayment of $38,367.

Clarion County

Clarion Area School District

Complied, in all significant respects, with applicable state laws, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures except for the following findings: the district failed to apply timely for more than $300,000 in state reimbursements toward construction costs; and failed to provide required supporting documentation to verify the more than $1.2 million received in regular transportation reimbursement for the 2014-15 through 2017-18 school years.

Indiana County

Indiana Area School District – No findings.

Northumberland County

Shamokin Area School District

Complied, in all significant respects, with applicable state laws, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures except for the following findings: the district failed in its legal duty to ensure its contracted bus drivers were qualified and cleared to transport students, therefore putting them at potential risk. The district also inaccurately reported the number of nonpublic school students transported, resulting in an overpayment from the state of $18,480.

Pike County

Wallenpaupack Area School District

Complied, in all significant respects, with applicable state laws, contracts, grant requirements and administrative procedures except for the following findings: the district inaccurately reported transportation data to PDE resulting in an overpayment to the district of $36,622. The district inaccurately reported nonresident student data resulting in an overpayment from the state of $18,654 and lacked required documentation to verify $243,635 in received reimbursements.

Learn more about the Department of the Auditor General online at www.PaAuditor.gov.

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