Report 2017-104 Recommendation 22 Responses

Report 2017-104: Montebello Unified School District: County Superintendent Intervention Is Necessary to Address Its Weak Financial Management and Governance (Release Date: November 2017)

Recommendation #22 To: Montebello Unified School District

To ensure that staff who make or influence district decisions are free from perceived or actual conflicts of interest, Montebello should, within 60 days, expand its policy to require all employees approving contracts or expenditures to be designated and file a statement of economic interests.

1-Year Agency Response

MUSD has updated its conflict of interest policy to include the hazardous materials coordinator and facilities projects coordinator. MUSD has filed statements of economic interests from designated employees including all board members. Forms are filed in the Superintendent's Office and those required to be filed with the L.A. County Supervisors have been sent.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Montebello expanded its policy to require additional positions to be designated and file a statement of economic interests.

6-Month Agency Response

MUSD has updated is conflict of interest policy and includes positions previously not identified. MUSD has requested of the designated positions to file a statement of economic interests. They are filed in the Superintendent's Office and those required to be filed with the L.A. County Supervisors have been sent.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Montebello did not identify in its policy all of the positions hat we identified during the audit whose incumbents approve contracts or expenditures, including the hazardous materials coordinator and the facilities projects coordinator.

60-Day Agency Response

MUSD will require all employees approving contracts or expenditures to file a statement of economic interests. Amongst the positions are: Director, Elementary Education; Director, Secondary Education; Director, Special Education; Director, Maintenance, Operations & Facilities; Director, Nutrition Services; Director, Fiscal Services; Director, Adult Education & Support Services; Director, Pupil & Community Services; Director, Administrative Services; Director, Procurement/Logistics, Director, Head Start; Chief of Police Services; Director, Certificated Personnel; Director, Classified Human Resources; Operations Manager; Maintenance Manager; Facilities Projects Manager; Transportation Manager; Budget Manager

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

Montebello has not expanded its policy to require all employees approving contracts or expenditures to be designated and file a statement of economic interests.

All Recommendations in 2017-104

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.