Audit finds Independence Schools ‘well-managed’ despite major mishandling of 4-day week discussion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Despite a major mishandling of discussions regarding a possible 4-day work week within the Independence School District, the State Auditor has deemed it to be well-managed.

Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced on Monday, Aug. 18, that a thorough review of the Independence School District found that overall, it is well managed - despite a closed meeting debacle. Only minor issues that need to be addressed were discovered.

“I believe it’s extremely important that we give taxpayers and parents a better understanding of how effective and efficient their public schools are with the tax dollars they are given, and with this report in hand, I think they can be confident the Independence School District is operationally sound and well run,” said Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick’s report rated the district as “good,” as the Auditor noted the district is already working to address the concerns he identified.

However, the Auditor indicated that the district does need to improve its cash handling procedures. At least one of the six schools reviewed did not record or deposit receipts in a timely manner.

For example, Fitzpatrick said a more than $11,000 deposit made on May 20, 2024, included receipts collected from May 9. The internal control policy requires these receipts to be deposited daily - not monthly.

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According to Fitzpatrick, this could increase the risk of loss, theft or misuse of funds. Additionally, staff did not always prepare event sheets for student activity receipts per procedures or turn money collected over to the Activities Office.

The Auditor noted that the report also found that two out of three schools reviewed do not maintain change funds at constant amounts and use the money for petty cash expenses.

Fitzpatrick indicated that the change fund for each building is set at $200. One office had a $20 shortage, while another had $20 in over collections.

Fitzpatrick noted that the report found a need for the district to improve compliance with the Sunshine Law - specifically related to closed meetings.

According to the Auditor, a review of meeting minutes found that topics discussed behind closed doors were actually barred by law. For example, the Board discussed a 4-day instructional period with data from a recent survey. In that same meeting, members considered the need for additional data.

“... I am disappointed by leadership’s decision to spend taxpayer money in an effort to prevent those same taxpayers from weighing in on the four-day school week,” Fitzpatrick reported. “This decision has massive implications for families who rely on the district to provide an education for their children. Attempting to deny them an opportunity to have their voices heard at the ballot box is a concerning decision by the district. While the lawsuit has not been resolved, it is noted in our audit.”

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The audit noted that in December 2022, the district voted to establish a 4-day school week for the 2023-24 year. However, in May 2024, the Missouri Senate passed a bill that required school districts with more than 30,000 residents to get voter approval before such a move is made in the 2026-27 school year at the earliest.

In November 2024, the audit revealed that the district filed a suit to request the court find the newly passed law unconstitutional and bar its enforcement. That case remains ongoing as of Friday, Aug. 15.

The report’s final finding noted that the district has not created a records management and retention policy that includes electronic communication in compliance with the Secretary of State.

Fitzpatrick noted that the audit is part of his plan to more regularly review the performance of Missouri schools. While the State Auditor’s Office has the authority to perform such reviews, he claimed the previous administrations had audited one district per year - some of which happened only after successful petitions by district residents.

With the release of the findings, Fitzpatrick said his office has now released reports on four school districts in the past year. His office will also continue to work on the second part of an audit of the St. Louis Public School District and an investigation into the Hickman Mills School District.

The Independence School District released the following statement in response:

The Independence School District celebrates the findings of the Missouri State Auditor’s Office announced today, which rated the district’s overall performance as “Good.” The ISD is proud to be only the third school district in the past decade to earn a “Good” rating in a state audit — a distinction that highlights our commitment to excellence, accountability, and transparency. We are committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, and we appreciate that this thorough examination of district spending and processes affirms our efforts to wisely and effectively manage resources. We are encouraged that the audit identified only three minor areas for improvement, all of which the district is already proactively addressing: strengthen cash-handling procedures, increase transparency in board operations in relation to the Sunshine Law, and ensure compliance with electronic records management. We take great pride in the long-standing fiscal responsibility and accountability demonstrated by our staff and leadership. Success like this is not built overnight—it reflects a strong foundation of responsible leadership and careful stewardship of resources. It is unfortunate that the Auditor chose to reference the district’s pending lawsuit regarding the four-day school week. That matter is currently before the courts, and it falls outside the scope of the financial and operational review conducted by the State Auditor’s Office. The four-day school week has already delivered exciting results for our students and staff. While we respect the legal process, the attention it demands creates a distraction that does not serve our children, our teachers, or our community. Our priority must remain where it belongs — in our classrooms and on our students. As we move forward, our goal is to resolve this matter and put the focus back on what truly matters: providing the best possible education for the students of the ISD. The Independence School District remains committed to continuous improvement, transparency, and the responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources as we serve the students and families of our community.

To read the report in full, click HERE.

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Audit finds Independence Schools ‘well-managed’ despite major mishandling of 4-day week discussion

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