Review of FSDB audit in first phase

From: St. Augustine Record, FL - Nov 30, 2003

By MARGO C. POPE
Associate Editor

The Florida Legislature has taken the first step in a formal review of a critical state audit of Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.

The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee is tentatively scheduled to start its review on Dec. 8.

The committee is the first step in a formal state review of the audit, says Rep. Doug Wiles, D-St. Augustine and Florida House minority leader.

Meanwhile, school Trustees Chairwoman Mary Jane Dillon said the school was not aware of the upcoming meeting and would await information from the committee before commenting further.

Wiles requested the formal review last week although he was aware that the new committee chairman had said the audit would be on the December agenda of the committee. The meeting is tentatively set for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 8 in the state Capitol in Tallahassee.

Wiles' letter formalized months of discussions he's had with the committee's staff and other state officials about the audit.

"This audit has statewide implications," Wiles said last week. "Some of these issues could also face other state agencies."

State Rep. Don Davis, R-Jacksonville, also has met with state officials about the audit.

Wiles said he wanted his letter to ensure that the committee understood the concerns that he and Davis and others have about the audit's findings.

"I am appalled that in the 11 months following the publication of the audit report there has been no follow-up review by either the Governor's Office or the Department of Education. Clearly there is a need to investigate these and other issues in depth and take appropriate correction action as necessary."

Wiles said he is prepared to file or support legislation in the spring to ensure that all state agencies follow the intent of state laws and that those responsible exercise appropriate accountability of state funds.

Wiles said he has always worked to assist the school in its mission to serve deaf and visually impaired students.

"The ability of the school to accomplish its critical missions depends, in large part, on the credibility of its administration," he said.

Committee Chairman Ray Sansom, a Republican state representative from Fort Walton Beach, said he has talked with Wiles about the audit and intends to make a thorough review of it and the school's responses.

"The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is an extremely important part of the state as well as your community," he said last week.

At the December meeting, Sansom said the committee will hear from the Auditor General's office about the audit itself and its findings.

The audit was released on Dec. 18, 2002, and included 13 findings of violations of state laws and policies. It was an audit of the school's business practices and did not include a review of its curriculum or school activities.

Sansom said the committee is concerned about the audit's findings because of the importance of the school to the state.

"What we'll decide in December is what's going to be the best course of action for the committee review," he said. "We want to be sure that everyone's clear on where we're headed."

The committee then plans to hear a presentation from school officials at its next meeting, probably in January, Sansom said.

However, Sansom said it is his intention to talk with school officials prior to Dec. 8 to advise them of how the committee review will work.

© The St. Augustine Record