05/04/2026
When this reaudit was first made public, it was important to me that we follow through and get clear, objective answers where we can.
Now that the report is complete, I want to walk through the key findings and share my perspective on each item.
1. Vision Culture Project
Three vendors with a total of $282,737 were used for this work:
- Brian Stroh Coaching & Consulting – $7,775
- Greener Shepherds – $8,025
- Renewed Minds – $266,937
Services were split into two categories, coaching services and the vision culture pilot for $136,401 and $146,336, respectively. The coaching services RFP was board approved in November 2023 with a NTE value of $43,200.
The audit identified two issues:
A. The coaching contract exceeded its not-to-exceed amount by $93,201
B. The pilot program was not formally discussed by the Board before implementation (though all payments were later approved)
My take: The audit confirmed no conflicts of interest and all payments were properly supported. This was not misuse of fund, but it was a breakdown in process and oversight.
We need to:
A. Set clear budgets for projects like this
B. Track total spending, not just individual invoices
C. Ensure the Board is formally involved in major initiatives
2. Other Consulting Expenses
The audit reviewed $1,008,278 in consulting services across 23 vendors.
The audit found:
A. All expenditures were properly supported
B. 7 payments totaling $15,059 were not included in Board abstracts
C. All were under the $25,000 threshold and within administrative authority
$15,059 is about 1.5% of total spending on consulting services over three years.
My take here is that while the dollars are small, transparency always matters. Even when spending is allowed administratively, it should still be visible to the Board. Improvements are already being made here, and they need to continue.
3. Cargill Grant Funds
$87,930 were reviewed and found to be fully compliant. The auditor made no finding or recommendations.
I have no concerns here as this appears to have been handled correctly.
4. Hiring Practices
The audit confirmed that:
A. Proper process was followed
B. Candidates were scored and selected based on merit
C. No one individual controls hiring decisions
My take: This is a strength of our district. The system in place provides checks and balances.
5. Marketing & Communications Position
Mr. Devore's salary during the time of review was $100k–$103k. There is no 28E agreement in place. $142,700 (~70%) of Mr. Devore's salary was funded through donations
The audit found no overpayment and no compliance issues. While this is compliant, I do not believe it is structured well long-term. We should either formalize this through a 28E agreement, or be prepared to fund the position fully as a district.
6. Board President Residency
The audit determined that Mr. Comfort owned property within the district and that no vote outcomes would have been impacted.
My take is that this issue is resolved. It’s time to move forward.
7. Superintendent Licensure
The audit discussed Mr. Fisher's 14-day lapse in licensure in December 2025. This has already been acknowledged by Mr. Fisher himself, and members of the Board. During the lapse, Mr. Fisher received $8,115 in salary. Corrective action was taken immediately, and new tracking systems are now in place.
My take:
This is a serious oversight. The Superintendent has taken responsibility, and I also take responsibility as a Board Member for not verifying licensure before contract renewal.
Moving forward, we need to:
- Follow legal guidance
- Strengthen verification processes
- Ensure this does not happen again
IMHO, here’s the bottom line:
The audit did not find conflicts of interest or widespread misuse of funds. The vast majority of expenditures were appropriate and supported. However, there are clear areas where we need to improve processes and oversight. That's were my focus is going forward....transparency, accountability, and building stronger systems. I believe this report gives us a clear path to do better for our students and our community.
If you haven't already, I encourage you to read the full report for yourself. I will provide a link in the comment section below.
