School board sticks with auditors

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle School Board voted 4-1 to retain Wear, Howell, Strickland, Quinn &Law as auditor for fiscal 2004-05 at a regular meeting conducted at Crestline Elementary School recently.
It also approved bid specifications for a new model extended cab pickup truck for the maintenance department.
The vote on an auditor came after Superintendent Dr. Lee Hartsell recommended staying with the one the school system has used in the past.
Board member Jeff Gray made a motion to that effect and board chairman Ronnie Abercrombie voted in the negative.
"We need to find someone quickly. If you change, don't get someone who has never done school audits before," Dr. Hartsell pointed out.
"I don't have a problem with that but most business firms wouldn't stay with one auditor for a long period," Abercrombie said.
Earlier, he requested that an audit of the school system be conducted by the state. However, the state auditing department declined due to its heavy work schedule.
"There are several concerns we need to look at before changing auditors Gray said. "North Alabama has only four or five auditing firms that are experienced in school system audits. They don't like to change because of the big learning curve involved. I'd stay with the same firm for at least five years."
Maintenance supervisor Hank Quattlebaum told the board he reached the decision to ask for a new truck after searching for a used vehicle with low mileage.
"I have checked with the state about a surplus vehicle," Quattlebaum said. "They don't have anything with 50,000 miles or less."
"Do we really need an extended cab truck?" Abercrombie asked.
"We really need the extra space with everything I have to carry," Quattlebaum replied.
The board acted on other matters as follows: