State superintendent proposes separating internal audit and program evaluation; board members cite 2017 audit concerns

State education leaders presented an informational proposal Aug. 21 to reorganize parts of the Mississippi Department of Education so that the internal audit and program-evaluation offices operate with direct reporting lines to the State Board of Education.

State Superintendent Doctor Robert Evans introduced the idea as a structural change — not a personnel action — intended to give internal audit and program evaluation greater autonomy and clearer lines of accountability to the board while preserving daily operational links to the superintendent's office.

"The goal is that each of those two offices have the independence to do what they need to do and to report to the board directly," Evans said, describing the proposal as a way to strengthen transparency and shorten reporting channels.

Board member Mister Bill Jacobs replied with a history note: he reviewed a 2017 state auditor report and related coverage that had criticized department oversight and recommended corrective actions. "The board got nailed back in 02/2017," Jacobs said, urging the board to ensure reforms prevent a recurrence of past breakdowns.

Why it matters: state law currently establishes the Office of Educational Accountability and specifies duties for its director. Department staff identified Mississippi Code section 37-1-51.9 in board materials and said a technical statutory amendment would be needed to align the department's organizational structure with the proposed reporting lines.

Key points presented:
- The change proposed is a reorganization of existing staff, not an immediate request for new hiring or an action item. The department described two org charts: the current structure with internal audit under broader accountability functions and an alternative chart that places internal audit and program evaluation as independent offices with direct access to the board.
- The department said the internal-audit function already exists as a separate legal requirement and that separating it administratively would reflect that statutory independence.

Board discussion: Jacobs and other board members urged careful review of historic findings and recommended specific policy fixes, including updating the board27s internal-audit charter. Some board members asked for copies of the 2017 auditor report; Jacobs and staff said they would provide that material for further review before any statutory changes were proposed.

Outcome: the item was presented for discussion only; no formal board action was taken on Aug. 21. Department staff said the proposal is an initial draft to start conversations and to assemble the technical statutory language that would be necessary for any future change.