Digging through 3 years of audits of the Hancock County School system one does not find indications of the looming financial crisis. The audits, conducted by the Clarksburg CPA Firm of Tetrick & Bartlet shows a balance of $3.5 million at the close of 2024. The audit, however, does refer to in a letter dated March 29, 2024 is Hancock County’s non-compliance to deadlines to submit audits and reports. The 2024 audit, due 60 days after the close of the fiscal year in July was not submitted until December 2024.
The Hancock County School Board violated the State Code 18-5-4c by not publishing the budget for the next fiscal year in the local print newspaper thus denying Hancock County citizens the opportunity to view the budget and even hold a public hearing on it if they wished. The March 29, 2024 letter, addressed to the Management and the Honorable Members of the Board of Education, was never provided to the Hancock Board of Education according to two Board members.
And, still no red flags. Not from the County Superintendent who was aware of the late reports and not from the Financial Officer at the State Board of Education who had to have known there was trouble in Hancock County. Not from the Hancock County Board of Education who were not receiving audits and reports on a timely basis and sometimes not at all.
The State Board of Education fired auditors Bartlett & Tetrick upon assuming control, but did not elaborate on the reasons. This year’s audit will be conducted by the State Auditor’s office.
This situation is one we cannot blame on the Legislature. They codified a checks and balance system that was blatantly ignored by Hancock County and not enforced by the State Department of Education.
A bill to provide financial assistance sponsored by Del. Pat McGeehan, has not yet made the agenda in Senate Finance Committee, McGeehan’s bill which set criteria for receiving the funding is double-referenced, first to the Education Committee and then to the Finance Committee.
Teachers and school service personnel must receive notification if they are to be among the 143 personnel laid off by March 1st.
