School district was “unauditable” in 2007

 

SOUTH POINT — In 2007 South Point Schools were found unauditable by the Ohio Auditor’s office. In 2013 the district brings home its second state audit award.

Auditor of State Dave Yost announced last week that the South Point School District, along with nine other districts, received the Auditor of State Award for their clean audit reports.

“It’s exciting to be a recipient of the award for two consecutive years,” Tresa Baker, South Point treasurer, said. “I think that closer attention has been paid to financial information than in the past. It also helps we have people who are not afraid to ask questions if something doesn’t seem right.”

Baker also cited monthly reviews by board members and dedicated personnel in her office as being key contributors to the district’s winning of the award.

South Point Schools Superintendent Ken Cook said the award goes a long way in showing the district holds people accountable for finances. There may have been problems in the past, but he said these awards prove South Point has moved in the right direction and intends to stay the course.

“(Baker) has done a terrific job,” Cook said. “The management process, the accountability, it’s all terrific. Proper management means everything filters properly and proper accounting procedures are in place when people are handling money.”

While winning the award reflects well on the district, both administrators said the true reward comes from knowing the districts public dollars are going where they are supposed to be going.

“We are a school system with a call to educate our children,” Baker said. “Being an accountant in an educational system you don’t always feel like you are an integral part of the system, but if all the dollars aren’t there then teachers aren’t getting paid and textbooks aren’t being purchased. An audit like this, most importantly, says we are taking care of that job.”

Baker said she and her staff plan to keep doing their job to the best of their abilities and hopefully next year the district can pull off a three-peat.