Special Meeting to Address Manatee School District Financial Audit

The public will get a chance next week to ask questions to the law firm and the company tasked with conducting a forensic audit of the Manatee School District's troubled finances.

The Manatee School Board will hold a special meeting at 5:45 p.m. Thursday concerning the results of last month's audit, aimed at uncovering what led to the district's $3.4 million deficit. Officials from law firm Trenam Kempker and the Chicago auditing firm Navigant will be on hand to take questions from citizens and members of the school board and audit committee.

Auditors found there was no evidence of embezzlement of criminal wrongdoing, even though their 16,000-page report pointed out numerous problems with the budget system, including

The district paid $166,720 for the audit, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Former school superintendent Tim McGonegal stepped down in September, leaving behind financial disarray as the district prepared to finalize its 2013 budget.

Six candidates were being interviewed last week for the job as McGonegal's replacement.

If You Go

The Feb. 21 meeting will be held in the Manatee County Commission Chambers located on the first floor of the Manatee County Administrative Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. It will be broadcast live locally on Bright House Networks channel 62 and Comcast channel 20 and will be streamed live on www.mymanatee.org/mga.

The public is encouraged to submit questions in advance, to ensure all concerns are covered and to avoid duplication, by emailing them to navigant@manateeschools.net.

What would you like to ask about the financial audit? Post a comment below and join the conversation.

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