[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6109414,"mediaKeyId","2762089-4b3da68c4dca0d63c611af47095d43e2","parentId",2762089,"title","Auditor: FY24 draft audit near complete; district to request brief extension","audioSeconds",1629,"startMs",1813000,"endMs",3442000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762089-4b3da68c4dca0d63c611af47095d43e2&start=1813&end=3442","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762089-4b3da68c4dca0d63c611af47095d43e2/thumbnail_1813000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109414/Oklahoma/Auditor-FY24-draft-audit-near-complete-district-to-request-brief-extension","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109414-1be176bbf4abb9febe163b6dbc33f58f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142727&Signature=UYBaQG4oKRzJ4Q7gbxESu8deLHERQ6H6lO1wHasmFIXULJ9wQt988KqbdYyYNhHhB~2EgjPgni70ajru0cT1YhhSPlb6hlH11tFAemLNFEwzeer0iR6bkfe-D86dHuSxYQTYDDQeM1~pTGvCiWL5urtCMgNyC91Jw7Ls~IZc1gaCT7k3iIUEFVf1hUPK5Mdcpmbt0JLO2yAeO9kgxHQ0NDI5ikqeIryArw27XM4XZdIWYnNaLxAkuD11akAl8OGO-rMXbY0Xu0-Tek5CGp5OWXk3lv6J2exKTRrR0y52XAd4~GseUIJ11ZBf0LRSkRIhTkW3IswqMEghHNAfurKwAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oklahoma City Public Schools","date","2025-03-25T11:43:00Z","article","RSM, the district’s external auditor, presented a draft of Oklahoma City Public Schools’ fiscal year 2024 financial statement and single audit, telling the board the work is close but not finalized and that the district will request a short extension from the State Department of Education.

Tino Robledo, RSM’s engagement leader, said the auditors provided a preliminary draft of the financials but must complete required quality reviews before finalizing the report. “We’re getting close, but we’re not there yet,” Robledo told the board, and he described two areas likely to generate matters for reporting related to IT controls and classification of financial presentation.

Robledo explained the federal single‑audit rules that apply to districts receiving more than $750,000 in federal funds and said RSM’s testing of the district’s federal programs is prescriptive. He warned that a finding rising to a material weakness would increase federal audit testing (for example raising the audited programs from roughly 20% of funds to 40% of funds audited) and would be reported to federal grantors.

General counsel Tony Childers and CFO Sydney Ward provided context about the state and federal audit deadlines. Childers reminded the board that Oklahoma law requires districts to have audits completed within nine months of the fiscal year end (the fiscal year runs July 1–June 30); Ward said the district’s FY24 federal expenditures subject to single‑audit testing were about $93 million. Ward also gave high‑level financial context: the district’s net position typically ranges roughly $458 million to $520 million, the general fund balance has ranged approximately $28 million to $40 million in recent years, and the district’s TRS pension liability was described as roughly $250–300 million.

Board members asked about risks, historical issues, and consequences. Robledo noted that the severity of any control finding (control deficiency, significant deficiency, or material weakness) determines whether it becomes part of the formal written report and whether federal grantors see it. He added that the audit completion timeline was lengthened by required internal quality reviews and by required procedures such as actuarial reviews for pension valuations.

CFO Ward said the district will submit a letter asking the State Department of Education for a 45‑day extension but expects to finish well before that window. Childers confirmed staff drafted a letter for Superintendent Polk to transmit to the state.

Why it matters: the audit documents the district’s compliance with financial and federal funding rules, informs oversight decisions and can trigger additional federal testing or reporting requirements if significant deficiencies or material weaknesses are identified.

Next steps: auditors will finish quality reviews and provide a final report; district staff will file a formal extension request to the State Department of Education and present the finalized audit to the board when completed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 24, 2025 | OKCPS Board Meeting Livestream","oneSentenceSummary","RSM presented a draft of Oklahoma City Public Schools’ FY24 financial and single audit, saying quality reviews remain and the district will request a short extension; auditors flagged possible control‑level findings and explained federal single‑audit requirements.","taxTitle","OKLAHOMA CITY (Regular School District), School Districts, Oklahoma","taxId",14545,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109417,"School board approves 2025–26 E‑Rate contracts covering internet, WAN and maintenance",1266,275000,1541000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762089-4b3da68c4dca0d63c611af47095d43e2&start=275&end=1541","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762089-4b3da68c4dca0d63c611af47095d43e2/thumbnail_275000.jpg","/articles/6109417/Oklahoma/School-board-approves-202526-ERate-contracts-covering-internet-WAN-and-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109417-a3eafe0b237d51584b104c789e4e3e51/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142727&Signature=R2Qe5dFHvlmitnGGsvh1jV8qS64O-XcDShWusF4k4zPyz7xZ17GX~OFG5VnGYlvUNXZoEehcTxaXZEH3l93813vxOMFPEcr1Lc20eoGOxyosY7ovxq0jWPFhPoL6dez88oeRpKJRRp4pgcR21tNX6SmffN4lPgI9pUHEJEd4Aoiim6HdXFTSYBw1rpDv9n3WFysx2Hd042ioHToeSsnRUGunxqpoenRXAC-rXPGEIj97hEr7s-UH2Z09OBY4cT5soaNTjYP0aNkxZirb5B2074p9g-WrOP-oyJErWu1XsYupzFBWqIvpKZ4s-Ntgs8vXkyjIo5mVZHHztl7axJj0Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oklahoma City Public Schools’ board approved the district’s 2025–26 E‑Rate contract applications, voting 7–0 to authorize the district to file for federal discounts on internet access, wide area network services and network equipment maintenance.

The vote was taken after a presentation by Executive Director of Information Technology Services Eric Heilman, who explained E‑Rate and the district’s request. “E rate is education rate,” Heilman told the board, and described it as a Federal Communications Commission program funded by a universal service fee that provides discounts ranging from about 20% to 90% for schools and libraries.

Heilman said Oklahoma City qualifies for the highest discounts available for the district’s needs because the district participates in the Community Eligibility Provision: the district will request the same Category 1 (internet and WAN) dollars as last year and a reduced Category 2 (internal connections and equipment) amount. He summarized last year’s approved requests and this year’s proposal: last year the district requested $2,771,000 across categories with $363,000 out of pocket; the 2025–26 application requests about $2,200,000 with approximately $279,000 out of pocket, with Category 1 unchanged at $894,000 and Category 2 reduced to about $1,100,000.

The presentation emphasized program rules and district practice: E‑Rate is an annual application process that requires a funding commitment decision letter from the FCC before the district spends Category 2 funds, and Category 2 purchases are typically funded from bond dollars while Category 1 costs are charged to the general fund. Heilman also noted one important limit: “It does not cover devices,” meaning student laptops/tablets are funded through other district programs.

Board members asked about program stability at the federal level, procurement and the district’s historic savings through E‑Rate. Heilman said organizations including the Consortium for School Networking and the State Educational Technology Directors Association are monitoring potential federal changes and that letters to congressional delegations are circulating; Superintendent Polk agreed to share one of those letters with board members. On procurement, Heilman said E‑Rate requires an open competitive bidding process; Oklahoma City has gone out to bid on multi‑year cycles and the FCC audits procurement procedures.

Vice Chair Laurie Bowman moved to approve the school year 2025–26 E‑Rate contracts listed on the agenda; a second was given and the roll call vote recorded seven ayes and zero nays. “Having received 7 aye votes and 0 nay votes, the motion carries,” the clerk announced.

Why it matters: the federal discount program reduces the district’s cash outlay for critical connectivity and network infrastructure, directly affecting bandwidth, reliability, and schools’ ability to run digital learning tools.

Looking ahead: staff will file the E‑Rate application and, if approved by the FCC, the district will proceed with Category 2 purchases according to the funding commitment decision letter and its procurement schedule.","The Oklahoma City Public Schools board approved E‑Rate contract applications for the 2025–26 school year that keep bandwidth unchanged and reduce the category‑2 equipment request; the district will apply for federal discounts that cover most of the cost.","actionData","errors"]

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Auditor: FY24 draft audit near complete; district to request brief extension

School board approves 2025–26 E‑Rate contracts covering internet, WAN and maintenance