Once again, the Highland Park Independent School District has received a clean financial audit from its external auditor, Weaver. The firm presented its findings to the HPISD Finance Committee last week and the Board of Trustees accepted the final report during its meeting on Tuesday. The audit of the district's finances from the 2018-19 school year found no material weaknesses, deficiencies or irregularities and showed that the district is in compliance with all reporting requirements.
"As a trustee, it is gratifying to know from an outside auditor that our district is managing its finances well and in accordance with the law," said Edward Herring, chair of the district's Finance Committee. "Highland Park ISD's annual budget, including the $106 million recaptured by the state, exceeds $168 million. It is important that all financial controls be in place to provide the public with assurance that there is a proper accounting for every dollar spent."
In addition to the clean financial audit, HPISD received an A (Superior) rating on the state's school financial accountability system known as the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). FIRST ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices.
"The Business Office takes our role within the district very seriously," said Mike White, HPISD Assistant Superintendent for Business Services. "We work very hard to ensure we are good stewards of taxpayer funds because the HPISD community expects nothing less."
As noted in the audit, HPISD also received certificates of excellence in financial reporting from the Associational of School Business Officials (ASBO) and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).