7:53 PM Fri, Jul 31, 2009 | Permalink
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By Lee Zurik
NEW ORLEANS - A 15-page fiscal report by the state's legislative auditor highlights examples of payroll overpayments and the loss of dozens of computers, some of the problems cited for the second straight year.
"I think these findings are minor findings," said Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas.
Vallas said he inherited the findings from the 2007-2008 school year audit. He started in the summer of 2007 and said much of the legislative auditor's report is insignificant.
Among the findings, payroll problems that lead to the district, according to Vallas, paying $1 million to employees who left their job. Vallas says the RSD has recouped 80 percent of the overpaid money and the overpayments won't happen again.
"We went from what is called a negative to positive time entry system. That makes it impossible for someone to receive pay for not working," said Vallas.
The audit also cites the RSD for not recouping money from an incentive program, which the auditor said required teachers to stay with the district for 3 years. Those who left early were not forced to repay. But Vallas said many went to RSD charter schools, which he says the auditor didn't consider.
"This is one of those auditor specialties, where it's an interpretation and no fiscal impact," said Vallas.
And the audit also found, for the second straight year, the RSD lost property -- last year, 35 laptop computers and one digital scanner.
"I'm not here to make excuses, you don't want to lose any equipment. But when you consider the opening of 22 schools, if your only property loss is 32 computers? It's amazing there wasn't more property that couldn't be accounted for."
Austin Badon chairs the state House Education Committee and says he's spoken to the head of the Recovery School District and is confident the findings have been addressed.
"They concern me because it was a concern when you have overpayment and you have people who are no longer with the system getting paid. And I'm confident the new measures put in place will change that and it won't happen again," said Badon.
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