The St. Landry Parish School Board experienced financial losses amounting to $190,365 in the 2024 fiscal year, attributed to fraudulent checks and stolen items. According to Louisiana Legislative Auditor reports, fraudulent checks accounted for $187,839 of the total losses, while stolen equipment such as cameras and laptops contributed $2,496 to the deficit.
Fortunately, the school managed to recover all the funds that were stolen through fake checks after they were detected by the bank and the board. However, the stolen items, valued at $2,496, have not been reclaimed. Additionally, a sum of $325 lost during a home athletic event at Beau Chene High School was also recovered.
The audit report highlighted the board's lack of adequate security measures for safeguarding assets at schools. It also pointed out the failure to enforce compliance with established policies for handling funds and protecting school property.
Moreover, the audit report outlined several challenges that the district is expected to confront in the near future. These include significant decreases in revenue following the conclusion of ESSER funding, legislative changes impacting public schools, ongoing volatility in overall costs, reduced funding due to declining student counts, and a decrease in overall staff numbers.
Reference from News: Over $190,000 stolen from St. Landry Parish School Board, audit finds