KENANSVILLE — Labeled “CONFIDENTIAL,” a draft report of an audit conducted on the Duplin County school system and ordered by the county, was leaked earlier this week. -In its conclusion, the audit reports $14,935,500 could be saved in the next five years by the Duplin County School system, if it adopted suggested policy changes made by Evergreen Solutions, Llc., the Florida-based company that conducted the financial review.

Savings would come from a variety of changes, both in policy and communication of the public school system. Ideas proposed included reviewing the current accounting procedures, reviewing how the annual school budget is composed, opening up the flow of information to the public on the Duplin County Schools web site, and establishing a consistent dialogue between the county and the county’s school system.

In all, 18 recommendations were made.

The audit was ordered by the county after discussions this summer. It was agreed upon by commissioners to spend $75,000 for the services of the company to develop “a detailed set of information about the status of each district fund source; a summary report of the status of a district financial resources by fund source (federal, state, and local dollars); analysis of the status of Duplin County funding of Duplin County Public Schools and the processes involved; and utilization of findings to recommend strategies for improvements in the use of funds in Duplin County Public Schools.”

Superintendent Dr. Wiley Doby acknowledged that he had received a copy of the draft report. When asked if he had a chance to review the document he responded, “I don’t have any comment to make on it right now.”

The draft reports a minimum yearly savings of $1,678,000 if the county school system were to “implement policy change for federal funding; reduce budgeted expenditures; and implement a balance budget policy.” The savings over the next five years for the those changes alon could total $8,390,000 for those areas alone.

The report continues, showing that over a million dollars a could be saved each year by addressing “non-financial management and operations.” Suggestions were made to reduce assistant principal expenses; reduce general administration expenses; reduce legal expenses; improve cafeteria productivity and meal participation; consolidate the central office; update the facilities use policy; eliminate request for new maintenance positions; use child nutrition dollars for capital outlay; convert teacher assistant positions to teaching positions; and join county and school activities in transportation.

Dr. Linda Recio, president of Evergreen Solutions Llc., spoke on the draft report, saying it was to be reviewed by officials for any errors, or changes that needed to be made. Recio would not comment any further, other than to say, the full report is to be given to commissioners at their Monday, Feb. 16, meeting.

Michael Connolly can be reached at (910) 592-8137 ext. 120 or can be emailed at sicity@intrstar.net