School board to discuss response to audits

The Manatee County School Board will discuss corrective actions related to two state audits from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, during a special workshop.

The school district has said it has already addressed many of the findings produced in two State Auditor General’s Office reports released in the past month — one on operational funding and the second on federal, grant-funded programs — that revealed the district could spend more than $9 million to recover from major financial errors made by past leadership.

Mills has instructed his staff — corresponding with the relevant department — to look at the findings and provide evidence to eliminate, decrease or confirm each one.

The school board will discuss those findings today, at the school board administration building, 215 Manatee Ave. W. 

Superintendent Rick Mills will post his action plan to the district’s website for public viewing, based on his staff’s findings.

Then, Mills and Julie Aranibar, the school board chairwoman, plan to travel to Tallahassee to present the plan in person to elected officials and state education leaders.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].