Auditor: Kansas City-area district improving

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City-area school district has made improvements since a review eight months ago uncovered leadership and financial control shortfalls, according to state officials.

Of 17 problem areas cited in a March report on the Hickman Mills School District, recommended fixes for 16 of them either have been completed or were being completed, Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich's office said in a status report released Wednesday. Schweich's office audited the district after receiving a citizens' petition, The Kansas City Star reported.

"They have made a tremendous amount of progress in these eight months and we hope to see them continue on this path," said Spence Jackson, spokesman for the auditor's office. While in most cases an entity gets 90 days to shape up, the district received seven months "because of the complexity and severity of the findings," Jackson said.

Jackson said the most bothersome problems dealt with a superintendent search not being conducted in a public manner and a disputed balance to be paid to former superintendent Marjorie Williams. The district has since reached a settlement with Williams.

Other problems included a low unrestricted cash balance and falling revenue. The district fixed those problems by decreasing the size of its staff, including teachers and teachers' aides. The district reported an unrestricted fund balance of about $16 million at the end of June.

The audit also found the school board inappropriately held closed meetings and did not give proper public notice and did not adequately monitor purchases involving meals and travel.

Last year, Dennis Carpenter came in as superintendent. He restructured the district leadership from his deputies down to principals and assistant principals. Voters elected new members to the school board.

"This district is in a good place now," Carpenter said.

Besides cleaning up the problems described in the audit, the provisionally accredited district is on track to receive full accreditation, he said.

Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com