Wednesday, September 6, 2017

State Auditor: Errors found in MAEP (Updated)

 Update:  MDE issued this statement this afternoon:

The preliminary estimate for school funding provided to the Mississippi State Board of Education in July, as required by state law, was based on data from the 2016 fiscal year. As stated at the Board meeting, the numbers are expected to change. The actual data needed to produce the final funding recommendation is required to come from the 2017 fiscal year, which will be available in October. The final recommendation will come to the State Board in December. When the final MAEP calculations are done, an independent audit firm verifies the accuracy of the calculations.

State Auditor Stacey Pickering issued the following statement.


On Wednesday, September 6, 2017, the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor released its FY 2019 preliminary estimate calculation of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP).

In a letter addressed to legislative leaders and Governor Phil Bryant, State Auditor Stacey Pickering outlined his concerns over the accuracy of Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) data and stated that numbers from MDE and OSA did not corroborate. An error in the administrative component of MDE calculations caused a $732,757 discrepancy, undercalculating the amount necessary to fund MAEP.


Pickering also cited the differences in needs of schools across Mississippi and recommended the Legislature mandate an independently conducted study of these needs in each school district to provide proper education funds for all Mississippi K-12 students. Additionally, Pickering recommended that line item key expenditures be reinstituted in education budgets to increase transparency and encourage accountability in educational spending.




10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah well, it was inevitable. Mr. Pickering has finally sold out completely. He's supposed to be fine Christian man, but hey, he's running for Governor at some point. If his office merely did some data analyses of records (to see what's been manipulated) as well as interviews with thousands of faculty members (both K-12 and higher ed) - his "audit" would find discrepancies alright, in the form of grossly inflated enrollment numbers and attendance records. It's a fact. But nah, he has to look like he wants more funding for education to get elected to the next office. So very sad that billions are being squandered, but he's too spineless to actually upset that apple cart, and sadly he knows there's no way to recoup that money unless,......wait for it: Federal Audits by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Inspector General!

Anonymous said...

@2:38 Grossly inflated enrollment numbers?

Anonymous said...

Does this mean I have to replace the "Fully Fund MAEP" bumper sticker on my '98 Volvo with one that says "Fully Fund MAEP + $732,757" now?

Dunce Cap For Pickering.. said...

"....recommended a study in each school district..." Bullshit. And a bullshit recommendation. This was a topwater analysis and a nothing suggestion. A total revamp of our system of districts is the only thing that will be a reasonable beginning. And that will never happen.

Pickering needs to concentrate on things he is adequately able to handle; like people stealing from the water department in Toomsuuba or somebody failing to transfer funds properly over in Shangrila.

And, as always, if he wants to establish a meaningful legacy, he should get off his ass and spend a couple of months in Madison County. But he won't.

Isn't he due to head to Destin another time this season in the Campaign-Winnebago?

Anonymous said...

Exactly. He, Wicker and Hood are all being seen out and about more than they have been in four years.....useless and worthless they are. All three should be looking into the rectal abyss of every state agency in Mississippi for known, deliberate fraud going on, as well as the unknown, incompetent malfeasance of tax dollars - both state and federal, but they won't. This audit/report is meant to "look" like Pickering cares about education, and that he's doing something, when he's actually not. About time for us to see some more national guard duty Stacey?

Anonymous said...

Stacy needs to realize that K-12 education is not like Magic Kingdom or Epcot Center -- you aren't going to just snap your fingers and get a $300,000 salary for doing a lousy job ...

Anonymous said...

10:41pm But that is exactly what Stacey believes....and many others. Just snap your fingers and (if you know the right people to play ball with in this corrupt state of Mississippi) then you will in fact get a GIANT salary out of proportion to what you actually do on a daily basis.

Anonymous said...

@ 3:37pm The enrollments that are submitted are after certain mandated cutoff dates. Especially in n higher ed, it's a shell game and everyone's in on it. Each semester, hundreds of students will knowingly not be getting their financial aid as expected (late paperwork, etc.) and they won't even be notified, which is very upsetting to them, but their name will be on the enrollment for the semester....this has been done for the last decade across the state at most schools. Ask past VPs of registrar, directors of financial aid, and numerous others (who have since been shown the door) who were NOT willing to play ball. NO ONE is providing oversight. It's just all part of the Mississippi "Can I trust ya?" cult that permeates out of Oxford. Everyone knows it, but no one speaks for fear of retaliation. Pickering doesn't have guts or integrity he wants everyone to think he does. If he were the firm Christian, and dutiful man of military honor he likes to think he is, he would be demanding full out investigations, and not just pitiful little surface audits that win political points. The legislative Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) Committee didn't even operate/exist for almost ten years....what do you think state agencies did? Ran with the money while no one was looking.....everyone got fat since 2006.

Anonymous said...

MDE and the State Auditor's office come up with different numbers. Are you telling me one or both of these offices can't do math. Now that is rich. Believable too.

Anonymous said...

The State Auditor should be the one person in government that the rest of the people in government fear and hate the most. Sadly, it's an office that's often, as in the incumbent's case, used to try and attain higher office, so no rough stuff allowed. He'll bring down the chump change embezzlers but the real criminals - are you listening, Rudy? - go untouched.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.