For the fifteenth consecutive year the Puyallup School District has received a clean audit from the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

Director of Business Services Laura Marcoe reported the outstanding audit results to the school board at its regularly scheduled meeting on April 3.

The auditor’s report concluded that Puyallup has sound financial practices and complies with federal and state laws and regulations, as well as its own policies and procedures, to protect taxpayers’ interests.

The review of district finances and business practices took place from the first week of January through the middle of February. This year’s audit focused on financial statements and Federal grant compliance practices.

The financial statement review looks at district internal controls and processes.

This year the auditors reviewed Food and Nutrition Services for Federal compliance practices and financial reporting. They reviewed eligibility for families applying for free or reduced lunch; state reimbursement claims for the breakfast and lunch programs; and purchasing procedures to ensure compliance with Federal guidelines for receiving bids and hiring qualified vendors.

“The auditors reviewed vast amounts of documentation related to our federally funded breakfast and lunch programs.  Our staff takes these audits very seriously and were well prepared by having the documentation well organized and readily available.  This allowed our auditors to verify quickly that the information provided was accurate and complete.”

  Laura Marcoe, Director of Business Services

 Marcoe said the district is well prepared for the audit by partnering with schools and departments throughout the year to ensure policies and procedures are followed.  “We do things correctly not because we are being audited– it’s because we are accountable to our tax payers and we want to be in compliance,” she said.