AHS Receives Positive Reviews After Inspection for Audit

SYLVIA WINSTON
Staff Writer

Inspections are regular routines that take place at almost every workplace. They occur at high expense companies, government bases and schools. To this AHS is not an exception.

An audit was ordered by the California Department of Education for Dec. 13, 2012 at AHS. The inspection appraised three areas: Migration Education, Compensatory Education (Title I) and English Learners.

“[These three areas were audited] because they are our three major groups at our school,” Assistant Principal of Instruction Marisa Meyka said.

Several weeks ago, the Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) selected AHS as the last of many high schools it would inspect.

“We [receive] categorical money. [This money] helps us fund identified need areas, such as the English Learners. [The audit’s purpose] was to see if the school’s money was being spent appropriately,” Principal Brad Walsh said.

After a thorough inspection that spanned several days, the board finalized their review and reported that there were no findings, meaning that AHS was free of any violations.

“They complimented our school and even said it ran like a trustworthy organization,” Walsh said.

This inspection caused a lot of anxiety among the administrators.

“We were very stressed. It was breath-holding when the auditors were reading the results. The auditors [praised] our school, teachers and students,” Meyka said. Meyka was also the coordinator of the audit.

After the audit concluded, Walsh said that he received compliments from the committee regarding the fluidity of AHS.

“After the inspection was done, one of the guys in the back stood up and said, ‘It was obvious that we left the best school for last,’ ” Walsh said.

AUSD Director of Categorical Programs Terry Jaurequi mentioned the pride the district and AHS took after the audit.

“We feel very proud of the job we do to help students profoundly. Personally, I like to see that we are using our money ethically, [which] gives me pride. I was surprised to see everything well organized. [Outside] businesses did a great job [of] supporting us,” Jaurequi said.