For years I read the Little Hawk and Westside Story when free copies were in local businesses. Guess I need to find online. The failings of the ICSD leadership is beyond my comprehension and tolerance. No money, no mission. Those four words were often said by Sister Mary Venarda, RSM, former CEO of Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. Her words were prophetic. Thanks for this report Lyle.
If you cannot get through the paywall consider a subscription, to support local journalism. Here is the pertinent info from the Gazette article.
The district’s most recent audit — completed two years after the end of that fiscal year — details corrective action needed, including previous district leadership not appearing to properly reconcile the district’s balance sheet. What reconciliations were available contained unknown variances and other errors that compounded misstatements of the draft financials. The audit was for fiscal 2023 and was received by the school district in September 2025.
According to the audit, available on the Iowa City district’s website, some transitions were recorded as estimates without documentation or resolution. Bank accounts were not being properly reconciled and frequently contained “miscellaneous variances.”
Mr. Muller, good for you and the WSS journalists for showing the harm done to date, and the greater harm that might be ahead, in Iowa City's school system. We can hope those who run in the next election have strength, wisdom and endurance to fix--and not just mitigate temporarily--the current fiasco.
Local media outlets have done reporting on which I relied. Support local media. They are our representatives when it comes to shining the spotlight on government entities.
There are many people accountable for the unacceptable failings of the Iowa City school district.
But the ultimate responsibility lies at the feet of the school board. Independent financial audits must be completed every year.
While management may coordinate and support the audit process, it is the board’s audit. It is the board’s fiduciary responsibility.
An annual audit process would have discovered the problem earlier . . . and likely mitigated the unfortunate damage that has occurred.
For years I read the Little Hawk and Westside Story when free copies were in local businesses. Guess I need to find online. The failings of the ICSD leadership is beyond my comprehension and tolerance. No money, no mission. Those four words were often said by Sister Mary Venarda, RSM, former CEO of Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. Her words were prophetic. Thanks for this report Lyle.
Did the district not have an annual audit?
The district was behind several years.
https://www.thegazette.com/news/education/iowa-city-school-district-is-years-behind-in-audits-here-s-why-it-matters/article_7b3e6425-2e52-48a5-b52b-988343a18a1a.html
If you cannot get through the paywall consider a subscription, to support local journalism. Here is the pertinent info from the Gazette article.
The district’s most recent audit — completed two years after the end of that fiscal year — details corrective action needed, including previous district leadership not appearing to properly reconcile the district’s balance sheet. What reconciliations were available contained unknown variances and other errors that compounded misstatements of the draft financials. The audit was for fiscal 2023 and was received by the school district in September 2025.
According to the audit, available on the Iowa City district’s website, some transitions were recorded as estimates without documentation or resolution. Bank accounts were not being properly reconciled and frequently contained “miscellaneous variances.”
The school district’s audits on the district website. https://www.iowacityschools.org/our-district/departments/business-office/financial-reports
Mr. Muller, good for you and the WSS journalists for showing the harm done to date, and the greater harm that might be ahead, in Iowa City's school system. We can hope those who run in the next election have strength, wisdom and endurance to fix--and not just mitigate temporarily--the current fiasco.
Local media outlets have done reporting on which I relied. Support local media. They are our representatives when it comes to shining the spotlight on government entities.