District's Financial Operations Receives Outstanding Results in State Audit

The district has achieved stellar financial status for six years in a row

August 14, 2006—The Renton School District was recently recognized for good business practices and using taxpayer dollars responsibly. The acknowledgements came when state auditors reported that after a months-long financial accountability review, the district was found to be good stewards of public resources.

For nearly one full school year, members of the state auditor’s office examined critical areas of the school district’s financial activities including accountability of public resources, legal compliance, cash and investment management, long-term debt and more. Every school and each department was involved in the thorough analysis of everything from accounting of ticket sales for sporting events to proper letting of contracts to compliance with state and federal laws.

The news of the school district’s successful audit is well-received, coming as recent news reports show an ever-increasing number of large and small businesses currently under scrutiny for financial discrepancies and inappropriateness.

“We hold ourselves to a high standard of ethics and accountability,” said Rich Moore, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. “We manage public funds in a highly responsible manner because we are also taxpayers, parents and community members.”

Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel pointed to the countless number of federal, state and local regulations that govern a school district’s business practices and praised the work of staff members in the district’s business office, in schools and other departments involved in the audit.

“We do this part of running a district well,” said Dr. Heuschel, “so our teachers can concentrate on education.”