Timeline
December 2025
Superintendent begins to have concerns about the consistency and reliability of provided financial information. Superintendent directs the Chief Financial Officer to, upon completion of the annual external audit, report back after the holidays with information specific to future initiatives and financial standings.
January 15, 2026
An SCPPS employee advises the Superintendent of concerns regarding the accuracy of financial information and a potential cash flow shortfall.
January 16, 2026
Superintendent directs the Internal Auditor to conduct an internal audit of recent Business Office operations.
Evening of January 22, 2026
SCPPS General Counsel discovers potential misrepresentation of fund balances presented to the Board by the Chief Financial Officer at the Budget Review Committee Meeting on December 15, 2025. After a review of financial records, it became apparent that money was temporarily transferred from an operating account to the Louisiana Asset Management Pool (LAMP) account without additional approval, affecting how available balances were presented to the Board with transfers back and forth occurring within one day. The LAMP account is an investment account that generates short-term interest for government agencies.
January 23, 2026
St. Charles Parish School Board notifies the St. Charles Parish District Attorney and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor of potential misrepresentations by the Chief Financial Officer of the school system’s financial standing as presented to the St. Charles Parish School Board and Superintendent. School Board directs General Counsel to seek out an external firm to provide accounting consulting services. SCPPS issues first statement to the community and media citing the notification to authorities.
January 30, 2026
School Board’s engagement of EisnerAmper to provide accounting consulting services begins.
February 11, 2026
Internal Auditor submits a summary of their audit of the Business Office to the Superintendent, indicating a need to review and realign key business practices to provide more reliable information to the Superintendent and School Board.
March 25, 2026
At its regularly scheduled meeting, the School Board approves a revised budget for FY26.
April 9, 2026
SCPPS provides an update (second communication) to the community and media regarding the engagement of EisnerAmper and steps taken to strengthen the district’s financial position. These actions include reducing anticipated expenditures for the remainder of the current fiscal year; curtailing spending to essential needs with expenditures prioritized based on personnel, instruction, compliance, and safety; implementing stronger internal controls regarding transfers and budgeting processes; and approving a revised budget for FY26.
May 1, 2026
SCPPS provides a progress update (third communication) to the community and media highlighting steps taken to strengthen oversight and accountability: expanding the role of the Internal Auditor to include recurring audits of the Business Office, drafting updates to procedures to prohibit the transfer or withdrawal of funds without written consent of the Superintendent, and establishing whistleblower policies.
May 12, 2026
SCPPS, on behalf of the Superintendent and School Board, provides its fourth communication to the community and media detailing anticipated expenditures, revenues, and deficit for FY27 in addition to measures being taken based on draft recommendations from EisnerAmper: implementing tracking practices by moving from year-end adjustments to monthly monitoring of restricted funds; separating bond funds into a dedicated bank account to ensure those funds are used only for their intended purposes; establishing stricter budgeting controls, including system safeguards to lock in Board-approved budgets and monthly public reporting on expenditures; improving the timeliness of payroll and insurance allocation practices by charging costs directly to specific funds to provide a clearer view of departmental costs; and enhancing oversight and transparency for construction projects through detailed reporting on approved budgets, current expenditures, and projected costs to complete projects.
May 22, 2026
SCPPS receives final EisnerAmper report.
May 29, 2026
SCPPS submits internal and external findings to the St. Charles Parish District Attorney and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.
June 2, 2026
Agenda items at the advertised and livestreamed School Board Retreat include Fiscal Stabilization and Budget/Debt Policy/Procedure Updates. External Bond Counsel and staff members review options available to reduce deficit, and proposed revisions to Board policies and procedures are presented.
June 9, 2026
School Board approves resolutions giving preliminary approval to the issuance of $30,000,000 of Sales Tax Bonds and $35,000,000 in Revenue Anticipation Notes and a second revised budget for FY26. The resolutions represent the initial step in the financing process, authorizing district staff and financial advisors to proceed with the necessary legal, financial, and regulatory requirements before the bonds and notes can be issued.
June 17, 2026
SCPPS informs the community and media (fifth communication) of the launch of the Financial Review Information Center on its website to provide the public with centralized access to the EisnerAmper report, a timeline of key events, and updates related to the district’s ongoing financial stabilization efforts.
June 23, 2026
School Board holds a public hearing for the Interim FY27 Budget followed by its regularly scheduled meeting where it is approved. Also approved at this meeting are first readings for revisions to Policy 3.01 - Annual Operating Budget and Board Policy 3.01.01 - Curriculum Driven Budgeting Process, first reading of new Policy 3.01.02 - General Fund Reserves, and acceptance of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Audit for FY 24-25.