Express 08-04-15 Blocker on the state audit

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April 15, 2008 April 15, 2008 E-News from Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Blocker shares his opinion Superintendent Ronald Blocker submitted an opinion article to the Orlando Sentinel today in response to a March 11 Orlando Sentinel story about a recently released state audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. Here is his text: Efficiency torpedoed by state audit Fitch assigns OCPS an ‘A+’ rating The Orlando Sentinel reported Friday on a routine audit by the state. The audit cited and the Sentinel Fitch Ratings assigned an ‘A+’ rating summarized several of the 20 findings. To some readers, they will see our glass as half empty (or worse); on OCPS’ approximately $105 and to those familiar with the audit and school business, they will see the glass (at least) half full. I would million variable rate certificates of like to tell you the water in our glass is clear; and so is my intention to ensure our building program is participation (COPs) 2008B series. meeting the promise I made to voters in 2002 that we would be good stewards of tax dollars and provide The ‘A+’ rating is based on the better schools for children. district’s “sound financial management and reserve levels and First let me reiterate two points made in the article: (1) we are a large organization, with an annual $1.5 a diversifying local economy.” (April billion general fund budget and $1.6 billion capital project fund budget; and (2) there are occasional 3, 2008, ...

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• Publié par: Effo
• Nombre de lectures: 20
• Langue: English

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April15, 2008

ENews from Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Blocker shares his opinion Su erintendentRonald Blocker submitted an oinion article to the Orlando Sentinel todain resonse to a March 11 Orlando Sentinel storabout a recentlreleased state audit for fiscalear endinJune 30, 2007. Here is his text: Efficienc toredoed bstate audit Fitch assigns OCPS an ‘A+’ rating orted FridaThe Orlando Sentinel rethe state. The audit cited and the Sentinelon a routine audit b Fitch Ratins assined an ‘A+’ ratin summarized several of the 20 findins. To some readers, thewill see ourlass as half emt orworse ; on OCPS’ aroximatel $105 and to those familiar with the audit and school business, thewill see thelass atleast halffull. I would million variable rate certificates of like to tellou the water in ourlass is clear; and so is mintention to ensure our buildinro ramis artici ation COPs 2008Bseries. meetin the romiseI made to voters in 2002 that we would beood stewards of tax dollars androvide The ‘A+’ ratinis based on the better schools for children. district’s “sound financial mana ementand reserve levels and First let me reiterate twooints made in the article:1 weare a lare oranization, with an annual $1.5 a diversifin localeconom .”A ril billion eneralfund budet and $1.6 billion caital roect fund budet; and (2) there are occasional 3, 2008, Fitch Ratings, New York) COPs proceeds are used to -enc receivesovernment aof an audit – which everur oseractices. The ultimateanomalies in our supplement and accelerate the liance as taxa ersis to ensure comwould exect. district’s school building program. lemented roceduresThe first sentence of the summarre ortsaid the district “has established and im that enerallrovide for internal control of District oerations,” and “lied with sienerall comnificant OCPS Newsroom rovisions of laws, administrative rules, contracts andrant areements.” Even thouh a state official School Board said in an interview with a Sentinel reorter that there are "serious financialroblems" at OCPS, we Visit Our Schools believe his comment is not consistent with the written oinion. Curriculum Services School Construction News Seven of the findins were cateorized as havin“si nificantdeficiencies” and with that we will continue to disaree, leall and racticall. Since 1999 Orane Counthas built 73 new schools to accommodate unrecedented oulation rowth R anJe sonunior at Winter, a and to relieve and relace overcrowded and ain schools.We haveushed manbuttons to build Park Hih School,oins an elite schools uickl, with critical oversiht bexternal exerts in their fields of construction, law, finance and rou of56 students nationwide who achieved an ACT exam score audit. of 36.His was the onlerfect score in Florida. That ush,b boardmembers and staff, has allowed us to advance schoolro ects with develoers, Congratulations Ryan! ears before we had the moneto build them. Who benefits? The children and the econom. Hundreds Nearly 300,000 students were of students avoided beincrowded intoortables. The schools came on line faster; and thecost less tested in the month when Jeson than theinevitabl wouldcost in the future. took the exam. We roued the biddinof four newro ects to exedite the start of four identicalrotot ehi hschools. The tofour ualifiedcontractors were selected and we cometitivel neotiated the bestrice with each of them; all done with suortin oinions from outside leal counsel. We took the economic and ractical aroach that is lauded in therivate sector and endorsed bthe exerts in our citizen oversiht rou .

April15, 2008

I am not lettinu onour romiseto deliver schools. Our board has aroved the advance of $12 million to start desin now on 15 school renovations so thecan oen six to 12 months sooner than scheduled and boost the construction business at a time when theneed it. I welcome comment and sensible criticism from alluarters. Auditors. Parents. And even editorial writers. It comes with the territorand we know it. We take it all in and work to makeublic education better. For those who form opinions there will always be half full and half empty glasses. I believe our glass is very full.

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