Northeast News
Nov. 22, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — For the third consecutive year, the Kansas City Public Schools has earned a perfect grade from independent financial and compliance auditors.

According to a press release from the KCPS, auditors McGladrey and Welch & Associates determined that KCPS met or exceeded financial compliance standards across the 12 areas reviewed by the firms. By comparison, those same firms listed 13 findings in 2009 and 12 findings in 2010.

According to Board Chair Jon Hile, three years of excellent audit reports are the result of a, “laser-like focus on providing the best possible service KCPS stakeholders.”

“Taxpayers rightfully demand transparent, efficient and effective fiscal policies and management,” Hile said. “This audit report is outside confirmation that taxpayer money is being accounted for and spent in a responsible manner. We hold our administration to very high standards and they have passed with flying colors.”

Public school districts in Missouri are required to conduct an independent audit every year in order to ensure that their financial accounts are accurate and done in a manner that conforms to best practices within the accounting industry. These audits also determine whether or not school districts are complying with all relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations. This year’s audit report was folded into the KCPS Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which will be delivered to Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A copy of the report will be available on the KCPS website and the Board of Directors’ website on BoardDocs.

Superintendent R. Stephen Green, added that sound finances are one of the basic pillars of a great public education system. Having an accurate diagnosis of the financial health of KCPS allows the administration to allocate resources so that they have the most valuable positive impact on students.

“We have to have the trust of families, business leaders and organizations if we are going to achieve our goals,” Green said.