Eagle Heights records deficient

By Harold Gwin | August 20, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

The school could lose its state funds if the problem isn’t corrected within 90 days.

YOUNGSTOWN — The treasurer of Eagle Heights Academy said the charter school will have no problem producing the financial documents the state needs to complete an audit of school finances.

Mary Taylor, Ohio state auditor, declared Eagle Heights “unauditable” for fiscal year 2007 on Tuesday, saying the school’s financial records are incomplete and auditors can’t conduct a routine financial audit.

“That’s accurate,” said Ronald E. King, Eagle Heights treasurer.

There is some information that wasn’t available at the time of the audit a couple of weeks ago, he said.

The school, however, will be able to produce that missing information within seven to 10 days, he said, explaining it will require contacting some vendors to verify certain purchases and other details the state needs to complete its evaluation.

Getting tagged as “unauditable” means the charter school’s sponsor, Ohio Council of Community Schools in Toledo, will have to take some action.

Taylor said state law will require the sponsor to provide her office with a written plan describing its efforts to provide the necessary documentation for an audit.

That plan must be submitted within 45 days.

Ohio Council of Community Schools also is barred from opening any additional charter schools while Eagle Heights finances are considered unauditable, Taylor said.

If financial statements and records aren’t brought into proper condition within 90 days, the Ohio Department of Education will withhold state funding for Eagle Heights until the situation is corrected, Taylor said.

A call to Ohio Council of Community Schools on Tuesday seeking comment from Allison Perz, executive director, wasn’t returned.

Eagle Heights opened in 1998 and is located in the former South High School at 1833 Market St.

The school serves about 870 children in kindergarten through the eighth grade and operates on an annual budget of about $7.8 million.

gwin@vindy.com