KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - 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 revenues. 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 that the school board inappropriately held closed meetings and did not give proper public notice and did not adequately monitor purchases involving meals and travel.