Oakland Unified becomes a cautionary tale for state takeovers in California

05-13-2011

By Katy Murphy/Oakland Tribune

Eight years after the Oakland school district's financial meltdown and state takeover, the local school board can't seem to shake past mistakes -- including some made by the state agency tasked with restoring its fiscal health. In addition to its debt of $74 million, the school district until recently faced a $22 million fine for accounting errors made on the state's watch, according to figures from the state controller's office. An appeals board recently reduced the audit penalties, but other findings could yet emerge from the six-year period when the district was run by appointees of Jack O'Connell, the former state superintendent of public instruction. The Oakland school board regained its governing powers in 2009; the controller's office is just now completing its 2007-08 audit. Among the problems highlighted by auditors was a failure to reconcile the district's account balances with the bottom line reported by the county. (more...)

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Oakland Unified becomes a cautionary tale for state takeovers in California

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