The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts released an audit highlighting severe financial mismanagement within Sumter County Schools during the 2023 fiscal year. The audit found numerous issues including delays in financial reporting, failure to establish required budget committees, improper filing of employee tax forms leading to IRS penalties, and mishandling of federal pandemic relief funds totaling $192,542. These deficiencies prompted the state to take over the district in August 2023 due to ongoing accounting difficulties and a history of declining enrollment, poor facilities, and low student performance. Since intervention, improvements have been made, including hiring a CFO and implementing new financial procedures, although challenges remain.
