August 15, 2025
I am pleased to share that a recent comprehensive financial audit of our district by a statewide organization resulted in no findings.
The Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools will attend our Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday to deliver the FCMAT (Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team) audit report.
Please read below for a detailed description of the audit results and click here to link to the audit report.
While we are encouraged by this outcome, the work doesn’t stop here. As a district committed to continuous improvement, we see this audit as a valuable opportunity to strengthen our systems and enhance how we serve our students, staff, and community.
We have already made changes to our processes in the last year that reinforce the integrity of our financial systems, and we will continue to improve these procedures.
We do not take your trust lightly. My commitment to you is that we will continue to work hard to reassure our community that we handle resources responsibly and with transparency. Ultimately, our aim is to partner with the community to deliver resources to students as effectively as possible so that they may thrive.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Baier
Superintendent
Comprehensive financial audit of MVWSD resulted in no findings
The Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools and FCMAT (Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team) entered into an agreement in November 2024 for FCMAT to conduct an extraordinary audit of MVWSD to determine if fraud, misappropriation of funds, or other illegal practices may have occurred from July 2022–October 2024. The audit report concludes that "insufficient evidence exists to indicate that fraud, misappropriation of funds and/or assets, or other illegal fiscal practices may have occurred.”
FCMAT reviewed:
* Expenditures and internal controls for vendor selection, contracted services, and governing board approval
* All district contracts with vendors and service providers (578)
* Expenditures and internal controls related to the former superintendent’s travel, reimbursements, and credit card use.
FCMAT audit results:
* No conflicts of interest were identified
* No concerns related to potential gift of public funds were identified
* The former superintendent's travel fulfilled the stated purpose and followed approval procedures
* Contracts were appropriately brought to the Board of Trustees for review and approval
* No credit card charges or travel expenses without an educational purpose were identified
We appreciate the auditors’ thorough review and are grateful to our staff for their diligence.
MVWSD anticipates that in tandem with the FCMAT report, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) will have recommendations to improve our financial processes. MVWSD has proactively begun work in these areas:
* Developing written procedures and a procurement checklist for vendor and contract approvals
* Implementing a more restrictive process and documentation for credit card use
* Adjusting financial delegated authority to allow more transparency in purchasing
* Implementing a detailed employee travel policy in coordination with the Budget Advisory Committee
MVWSD began implementing additional financial controls last fall. Since then, the Budget Advisory Committee was formed with representative members, including parents and staff. This group works to provide financial transparency, foster understanding among stakeholders, and promote public participation in financial decision-making. Additionally, the district updated its contract process for selecting vendors and entering into contracts. These controls reduce the risk of favoritism or overpricing.