State Board of Accounts release detailed summary of questioned costs from SBCSC 2022-23 audit
ABC 57 SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The State Board of Accounts released an updated audit of South Bend School Corporation's 2022-23 school year, now including the full summary of questioned costs, totaling $767,585.46.
Within the updated report, current SBCSC Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, Ahnaf Tahmid, wrote a letter regarding corrective actions under the new administration.
Tahmid states in part, " Our guiding principle is simple: the first step toward rebuilding trust is to acknowledge and accept areas for improvement. We do not perceive the audit process as a threat, but as a collaborative scope for self-improvement. It is our firm mandate to become the best possible stewards of taxpayer dollars, ensuring that the Corporation serves our students and community with the highest level of financial integrity."
The audit period is from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, while Tahmid wasn't appointed until October 2024.
Tahmid goes on to list several key corrective actions the district is implementing. These can be seen on pages 49-52 in the full report at the bottom of this article.
The following is a breakdown of questioned costs:
- Controlled Project Referendum, Pages 17 and 18 - $2,683
- Payment of Claims Prior to Board Approval, Pages 31 and 32 - $210,445
- Referendum Fund Disbursements, Pages 34 and 35 - $65,490
- Conflict of Interest, Chekesha Donaldson, Page 41 - $271,568
Supporting Documentation, Pages 43 through 48:
- Donations - $1,000
- Vendor Disbursements - $68,855
- Credit Cards - $115,888.83
- Conference Travel - Building Expertise Education - $27,896.85
- Conference Travel - Innovative School Summit - $615.33
- Conference Travel - Art School Network Conference - $3,143.45
Total questioned cost - $767,585.46
The audit report was forwarded to the Office of the Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office.
ABC57 reached out to the prosecutor's office to follow up. The office confirmed they received the report, as is state law. The office stated law enforcement agency would need to investigate before making any charging decision.
The prosecutor's office also added they don't currently know whether SBOA or SBCSC have made any complaints to police.
On May 8, the South Bend Community School Corporation released the following statement:
“The State Board of Accounts supplemental compliance report addresses financial activity and internal control practices connected to the 2022–2023 operational period.
Since that time, the South Bend Community School Corporation has implemented and continues strengthening internal controls, financial oversight measures, documentation standards, contract review procedures, and compliance practices across departments.
The Corporation remains committed to accountability, transparency, responsible stewardship of public resources, and continuous operational improvement.”
You can view the full audit report below:
