Snohomish schools make changes after audit

SNOHOMISH — The Snohomish School District is making some policy changes based on a report by the state Auditor’s Office.

A regular agency audit called for the district to better protect assets against theft and called attention to issues with the new Snohomish Aquatic Center.

The audit mostly covered the period from Sept. 1, 2012, through Aug. 31, 2013 but included the aquatic center opening on Maple Avenue this January.

The aquatic center brought in $154,796 during the first month of operation.

The district contracted with the YMCA of Snohomish County to help with the opening. Initially, the district wanted the YMCA to run the aquatic center. Later, school officials decided it would instead be operated by the district. The opening date was also delayed.

Because the district changed course, contract tweaks were needed, said Tom Laufmann, the district’s director of business services and operations. The audit said the district was not in full compliance with the original contract, which was drafted a year ago.

The district paid $3,315 to relocate the center’s new director, Chris Bensen, from Long Island, New York, but the contract did not include moving expenses.

Laufmann said the district did not put those costs in the contract because it assumed a local person would be hired.

The audit also found differences between the contract amounts and actual pay for Bensen and three YMCA employees who helped open the aquatic center. The amounts ranged from as much as $1.86 more an hour to $1.48 less than the contract allowed per hour.

The district also spent $3,702 to pay wages and benefits for a business manager for the center. That cost was not included in the contract because the district did not plan to operate the center, Laufmann said.

The audit also called attention to $41,514 the YMCA owed to the district. Laufmann said the district has since received those funds.

The contract has ended, and the district is now fully operating the aquatic center, he said.

Laufmann expects the center to be financially healthy when the revenue report at the end of the fiscal year comes out in August. Kristin Foley, the district spokeswoman, said swim sessions and classes have been well attended.

The auditors also looked at how the district safeguards its assets. The report recommended that the district protect all theft-sensitive items, particularly in the transportation, maintenance and music departments.

District policy requires the tracking of items worth $5,000 or more. It also protects computers.

The audit cited losses due to a bus mechanic who took radios and other property.

The district investigated and confirmed the mechanic sold one radio worth $237. That employee is no longer with the district, Foley said.

Laufmann said administrators are reviewing the way expensive items that are not protected, such as radios, tires and musical instruments, are tracked.

“It’s about what we want to track and what’s a reasonable way to do it,” he said.

He plans to come up with a better system and present it to the school board for consideration in coming months.

Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.