The state Auditor’s Office issued a finding Monday against the Steilacoom Historical School District and, in an unusual move, rescinded it hours later while it takes another look at past student enrollment in online programs.
Monday’s audit report had questioned enrollment counts and payments received from the state for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years for Steilacoom’s online program, the Washington Virtual Academy, or WAVA.
But after Steilacoom Superintendent Bill Fritz spoke with audit officials Monday, they removed the audit from their website and replaced it with a note that said the finding would be “issued in the near future.”
The audit said the district was overpaid more than $1.3 million in state money over the two-year period as a result of overstating the number of students enrolled in the Internet program.
Fritz told The News Tribune he questioned the state’s methodology, and he characterized the published report as an early draft.
Auditor’s Office spokeswoman Mindy Chambers said the published report included a district response, but she said auditors were responding to questions the district raised on Monday.
“We try to be responsive to those we audit,” she said.
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.commatt.misterek@thenewstribune.com
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