Ascension Public Schools reports $544,000 March shortfall; audit finds procedural weaknesses

Ascension Public Schools officials told the school board that March 2026 ended with a negative variance of about $544,000 across three major revenue streams and a set of audit findings that the district will address with corrective actions.

The district’s business services director said major revenues came in lower than budgeted for the month, producing an overall negative variance of about $544,000 for March. The presenter said special education expenditures were approximately $450,000 over budget, driven by salary and benefit costs and additional paraprofessional expenses, and that other areas including instructional staff services, operations and maintenance, and central services also showed overages.

The director of business services described specific variances: a shortfall in certain revenue lines, a sales-tax surplus in one category that partially offset other shortfalls, and a loan receipt that fell below budgeted estimates. The report also noted the district’s cash and investments had increased year over year and the fund balance was up compared with March 2025.

On audit findings, the presenter said the local government budget-act review identified weaknesses in budget documentation and capital-asset schedules and cited payroll withholding closeout procedures. "The business services department will work with maintenance and planning construction to ensure the information provided is accurate before completing the schedule," the presenter said, adding that corrective-action plans will be implemented immediately.

Board members praised the clarity of the spreadsheets and the fund-balance breakdown. The district said it will amend budgets as needed, enhance review procedures, and update capitalization schedules to prevent future inaccuracies.

Next steps: business services will implement the corrective-action plan described to the board and return with updated budget and capitalization procedures as required by the local government budget review.