Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury has released its findings of invested irregularities in the Carter County School Department, among which reveal deficiencies in internal control and compliance related to school department time records, attendance records, and inspection logs.
Among the deficiencies noted were that time and attendance records were not maintained properly. Investigators noted several instances where a bus driver’s timesheet reflected hours worked, but daily bus route documentation reflected that the driver did not work those hours. “These instances may have been caused by employee error when preparing both timesheet and daily bus route assignment documentation; therefore, investigators could not determine the accuracy of leave balances and work hours paid to garage employees,” the report stated.
Also, the audit revealed that the transportation supervisor did not ensure that garage bus drivers properly completed the pre and post trip inspection logs before and after their bus route.
“Investigators noted numerous errors on inspection logs, including multiple bus drivers being listed for one bus route or no bus driver being listed. The failure to maintain accurate inspection logs increases the risks that buses will not be properly maintained and safely operated in accordance with state regulations and board policies, which increase the county’s risk of legal liabilities,” the report read.
The report noted that school department officials indicated that they have corrected or intend to correct the deficiencies.