The costly state audit of the Francis Howell School District largely confirmed the district’s 2020 internal audit. That earlier review identified key missteps, particularly regarding excess expenditures on the new Francis Howell North High School project. It’s important to note that as soon as the district’s own report was in, corrective action began. The state audit provided additional scrutiny, but its hefty price tag feels unnecessary given the district’s active response to the internal audit.
The Current Threat
While the audit detailed past errors, considerable financial risk today is linked to the partisan agendas of the school board majority. These members’ actions have resulted in rising legal fees and significant leadership turnover, including the loss of a respected superintendent, administrators, and award-winning teachers. The board’s refusal to purchase critical resources, such as a math materials/textbook update and BrainPop, jeopardizes student success and is likely to impact academic outcomes.
These risks are further exacerbated by the fact that FHSD has not approved a tax levy in approximately 20 years. In fact, the district spends about $2,000 less per student than both Fort Zumwalt and Orchard Farms. As the Francis Howell community works to address financial missteps, we would do well to move away from the culture wars and political distractions that pose a long-term threat to student’s quality of education.
A Summary of Key Findings
Note: The following findings should be considered in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which resulted in significant upheaval for school leaders.
Transparency issues in the management of Proposition S funds and processes.
The estimated cost for the new Francis Howell North High School started at $86 million but increased to over $164 million. The causes for the overrun were twofold: (1) a combination of inflated materials and labor costs during the COVID-19 Pandemic and (2) unclear communication to the Board of Education or the public regarding specs such as hallway width. In addition to an outpouring of public frustration, the significant increase resulted in the cancellation of other planned projects worth more than $56 million. The report further noted that hiring processes were skipped in the selection of a former district employee as project management personnel.
Safety Compliance Issues
22 out of 23 district schools failed to meet their mandated quota for fire or intruder drills.
Overstated Student Attendance Figures
Inaccurate accounting for students taking college visit trips impacted attendance figures, resulting in $11,500 in excess state funding.
While we applaud the district's effort to increase transparency and course correct, we have two cautions: (1) political posturing in the call for external audits can be costly to taxpayers and (2) significant costs are looming as the board majority continues to follow a partisan agenda.